Can Tamil Nadu's Srikanth D. and Kamali Moorthy Shine at the Indian Open of Surfing?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Srikanth D. wins men's open title with a score of 14.63.
- Kamali Moorthy defends her titles in Women’s Open and Groms Girls (U-16).
- Prahlad Sriram secures victory in the Groms Boys (U-16) category.
- Event faced challenges due to adverse weather conditions.
- Organized by Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by Mantra Surf Club.
Mangaluru, June 20 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu’s Srikanth D. secured the men’s open championship, while Kamali Moorthy defended her titles in the Women’s Open and Groms Girls (U-16) divisions at the Indian Open of Surfing, marking the second leg of the 2025 National Surfing Championship Series. Prahlad Sriram from Tamil Nadu also clinched the title in the Groms Boys (U-16) category.
After finishing as a runner-up last year, Srikanth displayed remarkable focus and determination, achieving a winning score of 14.63. He outperformed the reigning national champion Ramesh Budilal, who ended up with a score of 11.87. Sivaraj Babu (9.77) and Sanjay Selvamani (7.07) completed the top four rankings.
Defending champion Kamali once again established her dominance in Indian surfing, claiming victory in both the Women’s Open and Groms Girls (U-16) categories. Her impressive score of 13.33 in the Women’s Open final saw her triumph over Sugar Shanti Banarse (10.50), while Shrishti Selvam finished third with a score of 2.47.
In the Groms Girls final, Kamali shone brightly, achieving the highest heat total of the event with a remarkable 15.50. She comfortably outpaced Aadya Singh (2.36) and Saanvi Hegde (2.20) to defend her title.
In the Groms Boys (U-16) final, Prahlad Sriram emerged victorious with a score of 11.06, narrowly edging past Harish P. (9.67) and Som Sethi (9.30). This contest showcased the competitive spirit and depth of young surfing talent in India.
The event was organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by Mantra Surf Club under the auspices of the Surfing Federation of India. The opening day of the Indian Open was initially canceled due to heavy rains and unsafe sea conditions caused by the early monsoon and cyclonic activity in the Arabian Sea.
Subsequently, the event was held behind closed doors, with only participants and officials present.
“Despite the necessary rescheduling and scale-down, the quality of surfing was exceptional. The Indian Open of Surfing, being the second stop in the National Surfing Championship Series, faced some challenges. However, we prioritized conducting the competition to avoid impacting the surfers’ national rankings. Although it was a low-key event, the athletes’ passion and competitive spirit were truly inspiring,” stated Rammohan Paranjape, vice president of the Surfing Federation of India and director of Mantra Surf Club.