Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu – In a moment that will be etched in the history of Indian surfing, Ramesh Budihal carved his name into the record books by clinching the bronze medal in the open men’s category at the Asian Surfing Championships 2025 on Sunday.
The event, held against the picturesque backdrop of Mahabalipuram’s beaches, marked not only Budihal’s personal triumph but also India’s first-ever individual medal in the continental surfing arena.
In a fiercely contested four-man final heat, Budihal displayed remarkable composure and skill, earning 12.60 points to secure third place. He finished ahead of Indonesia’s Mega Artana (9.97 points), ensuring a historic podium finish for the tricolour.
The gold medal went to Republic of Korea’s Kanoa Heejae, who dominated with 15.17 points, while Indonesia’s Pajar Ariyana claimed silver with 14.57 points.
The path to the medal was no easy ride. In the semifinals, Budihal was drawn in Heat 1 and showcased his wave-reading expertise to finish second with 11.43 points, sealing his spot in the medal round.
India’s top-ranked surfer Kishore Kumar, however, bowed out in the semis after finishing fourth with 8.10 points.
This victory holds even more significance considering Budihal’s journey. Born in Kerala’s surfing hub of Kovalam, he began riding waves at the tender age of five.
His determination was tested last year when he failed to qualify for the Asian Championships in the Maldives. This time, he not only made the cut but also made history.
“I don’t have much to say except that this is a proud moment for all of us. Even one Indian in the final means a lot for the sport here, and the crowd’s support was amazing,” Budihal told Sportstar after his win.
Other Indian surfers also gave spirited performances. Srikanth D reached the quarter-finals but couldn’t advance further.
In the open women’s category, none of the Indian contenders progressed to the quarters — Shrishti Selvam and Kamali Moorthy bowed out in Round 3, while Sugar Shanti Banarse exited in Round 2.
Japan’s surfers dominated the women’s open, with Anri Matsuno taking gold (14.90 points) and Sumomo Sato silver (13.70 points). Thailand’s Isabel Higgs secured the bronze with 11.76 points.
In the U18 division, Harish P reached the quarter-finals in the boys’ event, while Aadya Singh and Dhamayanthi Sriram impressed by making the junior girls’ quarters.
Significantly, this edition of the Asian Surfing Championships served as the final qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan — and it was the first time India hosted the prestigious tournament.
Surfing, which made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 and featured again in Paris 2024, continues to gain momentum globally. With Budihal’s achievement, India has taken a giant leap forward in the sport’s competitive landscape.
