Indian Open of Surfing event officially launched

MANGALURU: The second edition of

Indian Open of Surfing

, India's biggest surfing festival, was launched officially on Friday. The event, which is scheduled to be held at

Sasihithlu Beach

near here from May 26 to 28, was launched by minister for forest, environment and ecology

B Ramanath Rai

.

The championship is recognized by the

International Surfing Association

and

Surfing Federation of India

(SFI) and is organized by Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with

Karnataka Tourism

, Kanara Surfing and Water Sports Promotion Council and Mantra Surf Club.

Indian Open of Surfing will be a precursor to the World Surfing League, which is expected to be held at Sasihithlu next year.

Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Jeevan Saldanha said that though the World Surfing League could not be organized last year, the international event will probably be held next year.

SFI president Kishore Kumar said that over 120 surfers from India and abroad will take part in the tournament. The premier surfing competition will play host to top surfers from Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Mumbai and Lakshadweep along with international surfers from Australia, United States of America and France.

Top names like Ishita Malviya (India's first-ever female surfer), Sinchana Gowda and Aneesha Nayak (top female surfers in India), Dharini Selvakumar, Manikandan and Sekar Pitchai (top male surfers in India) along with Tanvi Jagadish (top ranked stand-up paddler in India) will be seen riding the waves for the top slot in their respective categories.

The competition will see both men and women vie for the top spot under nine categories - Indians under-14, Indians Groms under-16, Indian juniors (17 - 22), Indian seniors (22 - 30), Indian master (above 30), women (of all age), open category (Indians and foreigners) and stand-up paddling (men and women), Kishore said.

"Our objective is to make surfing a massive sport in India, considering the fact that India has a long coastline. We want people across the country to work together in taking this sport at a grander stage and giving it necessary attention," he said.