Gulveer looks to hit peak form
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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Indian surfing looks to ride the crest of change
Indian surfing has stopped waiting for the perfect wave and has started forming its own. Once a niche pastime known only in small coastal pockets, the sport now boasts Asian Games quotas, a historic international podium, and a team unafraid to paddle out against Asia's best. The biggest breakthrough came early this month when Ramesh Budihal claimed a bronze at the Asian Surfing Championships (ASC) in Mahabalipuram — a result that signalled to the wider region that Indian surfers were here to compete. This achievement built on the momentum gained at the 2024 edition in Maldives, when India secured its first-ever Asian Games berths in a sport making its Asiad debut, a few years after its inclusion in the Olympic programme. The sport's debut at Tokyo 2020 lit a fire across Asia, with countries such as Japan and Indonesia ramping up their programmes, and India following suit. 'Since surfing was included in the Olympics, India started taking the sport seriously,' said Budihal after his historic outing. In Japan, the effect was just as striking. 'Having surfing in the Olympics in 2020 really brought that reach to the audience in so many countries,' said top Japanese surfer Kei Kobayashi. 'I didn't even know you could surf in India. It's so nice to see the surfing community develop here.' But ambition alone could not get Indian surfers into the line-up at major events — it needed resources, structure, and a willingness to take a gamble. Without government backing and with scarce resources, Indian surfing was stuck paddling in the same place, waiting for a current to push it forward. Taking the helm The tides began to shift during the pandemic — a surge in interest not only boosted participation but also prompted a reset at the Surfing Federation of India (SFI). The newly formed council, headed by president Arun Vasu, had clear intentions. 'India needed the exposure and the competition. We wanted to send an Indian team to the World Games, continental championships, and international events,' said Vasu, an avid surfer. Scenes from the Asian Surfing Championships. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The teams relied on private support for years, hoping to put Indian surfing on the map and attract official backing. Training trips to world-class surf breaks in the Maldives, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka gave Indian surfers much-needed exposure to higher levels of competition and technique. Alongside these efforts, the Surf Turf programme run by the TT Group at Covelong Point, emerged as a crucial grassroots initiative, nurturing local talent and feeding them into the national team. 'Six athletes of the 12-member contingent are products of this project, which has been running for over four years,' remarked Vasu, the Chairman and MD of TT Group. Turning point The combination of international experience and homegrown development began to pay off quickly. Teams sent to events around the world left a mark, and India's campaign at the 2024 ASC — a recently designated qualifier for the Asian Games — signalled a shift. SFI treasurer Nawaz Jabbar reflected on the achievement: 'The idea of actually being able to compete in the Asian Games itself was unbelievable. And then for us to be one of the countries to compete after winning the few available slots was a little bit of a pipe dream.' According to Nawaz, who also serves as SFI's tournament director, the unprecedented outing propelled Indian surfing into the limelight. 'That was a historic moment and huge achievement, and a lot of eyes were on us after that. There was a lot of publicity that we received.' That visibility translated into credibility. For the first time, Indian surfing was seen as a viable competitive sport — and it soon cleared the long-awaited path to gaining recognition. The SFI received approval from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) earlier this year, a major milestone that unlocked government support and resources for the sport. This endorsement has also helped attract sponsors and integrate the sport firmly within the national sports ecosystem — 'It meant that surfing could finally stand on its own legs in India.' New horizons With one major hurdle out of the way, the focus now is on building a competitive pipeline, both for the upcoming Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and beyond. Well aware that the big stage is only a year away, the SFI has begun its mission early to prioritise selection, international training, and nurturing young surfers. 'Age is always a thing, something we have to be wary of. The main effort is really to get more kids involved. The team has to be larger,' said Vasu, referring to nurturing younger surfers, as done in countries like Japan and Indonesia. 'The Japanese team were saying that every year, they have 600 kids taking part in their youth programmes. For India, even finding five kids is a struggle. We need to learn from them, and these events will hopefully get us more participation. 'People will see that they can make a future, and that they can be champions. India is at a very good stage in surfing, and today Asia is watching us. We will be there in the bigger leagues soon,' said Vasu. Going forward, the Olympics remain a challenging but motivating goal. 'I think it's going to be tough getting into the Olympics in two years. But for the edition after that, we will definitely be ready.' The ocean hasn't changed, but India's place in it has — and the next set of waves is already on the horizon.
India Today
10 hours ago
- India Today
Fencing sisters Jyotika and Rishika turn grit and guts into global recognition
In a quiet rooftop in Jammu and Kashmir during the Covid-19 lockdown, Rishika Khajuria fenced against shadows. With no coach at hand and no proper piste underfoot, she drilled her footwork between boundary walls, her sabre cutting arcs through the miles away in Rohru, a small town in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Jyotika Dutta was already a veteran of the national circuit. Her path to the sport began at 13, when a cousin introduced her to fencing, which is late by international standards, but early compared to Rishika, who started at had gone from those first awkward bouts to the quarter-finals of the Asian Games, over 20 medals at senior and junior nationals, and a place at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. They are, in many ways, at opposite ends of the same piste. Rishika, 25, is a rising sabre specialist from a region that is producing a steady stream of national-level fencers. Jyotika, 29, is one of Himachal Pradesh's few elite fencers, carrying the dual burden of competing internationally and creating awareness back first encounter with fencing was almost accidental. She was interested when her neighbour practised the sport.'I was excited to see it. Once I tried it, I thought I should do this,' she tells her entry at age 19 drew scepticism. 'Everyone was like, 'You can't do this, don't waste time.' Fencing requires so many basic skills like footwork, and I wasn't good at that in the beginning.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rishika Khajuria (@rishikakhajuria)Jyotika nods at the challenge of starting late. 'I started when I was 13, but that's still late. In other countries, they start at five. It's much like gymnastics.'For Rishika, the doubts became will pushed her to get better during the Covid-19 lockdowns.'It was just me and my inner voice against the rest,' she says. 'I wanted to do it at any cost. So, I did it.'The majority of people around me told me I can't. That stoked me. I thought, 'I have to prove them wrong.' Even after my first medal, some said I was lucky. I showed them it wasn't luck. It was my hard work. Now they've realised I've done it.'MAJOR RECOGNITIONIn July this year, Under Armour, the US-based sportswear giant, added Jyotika Dutta and Rishika Khajuria to its roster of athletes. For a niche sport still fighting for mainstream attention in India, it was a rare recognition has been sweeter for its scarcity. 'It feels great I have been recognised by a global brand (Under Armour). I feel so special connecting with them. When I look back at 2019 and now, it feels great,' Rishika, who competed in the World University Games in Germany in July, says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rishika Khajuria (@rishikakhajuria)THE STEADY GROWTHFor both Jyotika and Rishika, CA Bhavani Devi's breakthrough was more than symbolic — it made their career paths feel fencing has existed since the 1970s, but its modern momentum owes much to Bhavani, who became the first Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics in 2021. Though she missed Paris 2024 by the narrowest of margins, her run at the Games and her medals at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships have sparked unprecedented grassroots interest. Participation at nationals has grown by over 50 per cent in recent years, and the government has recognised the potential of the sport, offering training at Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres in Patiala, Kerala, Assam, and beyond now boast better facilities and equipment.A sport that was only limited to a few states in India is now spreading its wings. At the Nationals in 2023, fencers from 29 states competed.'After Bhavani went to the Olympics, there has been a lot of improvement,' says haven't reached the stage where fencing is a sustainable career option. But we're getting there. It's still lagging behind when compared to Europe. The training facilities are also getting better, but not at European level. Sports Authority of India runs the majority of the fencing centres. There are small clubs elsewhere. But I think we need more centres and clubs that teach fencing in many more cities and towns.'For Jyotika personally, the journey has been marked by peaks and valleys. 'I have seen a lot of highs and lows throughout my career. I was No. 1 at one point. But I had to deal with injuries. But I bounced back. I didn't quit. I am doing great.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jyotika Dutta (@dutta_jyotika)Meanwhile, Rishika has watched her home state transform. 'In Jammu and Kashmir, there is a boom. Quite a few children come daily to join the sport. There were seniors from there who did well at national and international level. Then I came. I am doing well. Parents come and they want their children to pursue this sport. There is change.'advertisementIS FENCING COMPLEX?For the uninitiated, fencing can be a bit bewildering. It's been part of the Olympics since the very first Games, yet its technicalities can be hard to follow.'We have three events in fencing,' Jyotika explains. 'I fence EPee, Rishika does Sabre, and the third is Foil. Each has different target areas. In pe, it's the entire body. In Sabre, it's the upper body, arms, head, and back. In Foil, it's from the shoulders to the waist and the back.'She adds: 'It's all electric now — we wear body wires, electric jackets, and masks connected to a computer. When you touch an opponent, you get a red or green light on the screen. In pe, you score with the point of the blade, which has a button at the tip. It needs a pressure of 500 to 700 grams to register the touch.'FENCING IS LIKE CHESSRishika describes her event with pride. 'Sabre is the most furious and fastest format. The target is the upper body. Inside the electric jacket, there is a wire that is connected to the apparatus. Fencing is like mental chess.'You only get a second to think and respond to what the opponent is doing. You need quick reflexes and the ability to decide quickly. Fencing is faster than the start of a racing car. It's the second-fastest event in the Olympics. Sabre is the fastest in the sport.'advertisementCAN'T GET ANGRYWhile reflexes must be razor-sharp, the mind has to be sharper still. Physical training builds the body, but mental edge comes from drills designed to hone concentration.'Meditation, specific mind-control exercises, and reaction drills,' says Rishika.'For my event, I have to be patient, so I train for that — a lot of watching my opponent. To compete at the highest level, I need to understand their style before I even step on the piste.'Managing emotions is just as crucial. One flash of temper can undo a bout.'In a combat sport, it's easy to get angry,' Rishika says. 'But if you get worked up, you'll lose. When we started, we used to get upset — say if someone hit your helmet. Now, you have to control your body, stay calm yet keep your movements and reflexes fast.'SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER?For Rishika, social media is a way to bridge fencing's visibility gap. The 25-year-old is also a fitness enthusiast and content creator, using her platform to inspire and engage audiences through sports and wellness.'Since fencing in India is a new sport, we don't get a lot of sponsors. So, it's important for us to get attention through social media. That's the plan.'The Under Armour deal is proof that their persistence is paying off — a rare global nod for two women from small towns making a mark in an elite, demanding now trains with her eyes on the next Asian Games. Rishika is fresh off her stint — a learning experience -- from the World University Games. Between them, they represent different stages of India's fencing journey: one in a state still awakening to the sport, the other in a region where participation is the piste, those differences vanish. There, it is just two athletes armed with blades, reflexes, and the will to keep proving themselves. And in doing so, carving a sharper, surer path for Indian fencing.- Ends
Deccan Herald
19 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
Gulveer looks to hit peak form
That's an improvement of close to four seconds from his previous best of 7.38.26, set at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational meet earlier in February. However, there's no time for celebration for the 2022 Asian Games medallist.
