Latest news with #NMPAIndianOpenofSurfing
Hans India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Monsoon rains wash out opening day of Indian Open of Surfing in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The sixth edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing got off to a rainy and reluctant start on Saturday, as organisers were forced to cancel all events on day one due to heavy rainfall and unsafe sea conditions at Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. With the early onset of the southwest monsoon and cyclonic disturbances in the Arabian Sea, high swells and erratic wave patterns made conditions unsuitable for competition. The Surfing Federation of India, along with co-organisers Mantra Surf Club and Surfing Swami Foundation, took the call to postpone proceedings after morning safety assessments. Originally scheduled to be held at Sasihithlu Beach, the event had already been relocated to Tannirbhavi earlier this week in anticipation of adverse weather. But persistent rainfall and choppy waters meant even the revised venue offered little respite. 'This is a sport deeply tied to nature, and today, nature clearly had other plans,' said Rammohan Paranjape, Vice President of the Surfing Federation of India. 'While we couldn't start the competition, we used the day for registrations, kit distribution and an important briefing for participants.' More than 50 surfers from across India are taking part in the three-day event, which is the second leg of the National Surfing Championship Series. Notable names in the fray include Ramesh Budhial, Kishore Kumar, Kamali P, Shrishti Selvam, and Sinchana Gowda, competing across four categories — Men's and Women's Open, and U-16 Groms for boys and girls. Contest Director Nawaz Jabbar said the safety of participants remained the top priority. 'The wave intervals were too short, the sea was rough, and rain further reduced visibility — not ideal for a competitive surf.' Officials remain optimistic that weather conditions may improve by Saturday, allowing the tournament to begin in earnest. The Indian Open of Surfing is presented by Karnataka Tourism, powered by Cycle Pure Agarbathies, and supported by the New Mangalore Port Authority.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Weather plays spoilsport on inaugural of surfing event
Mangaluru: The opening day of the 6th NMPA Indian Open of Surfing (IOS), scheduled to take place at Tannirbhavi Eco Beach, was called off on Friday without any competition due to heavy rainfall and unsafe sea conditions. After early morning assessments revealed high swells and erratic wave patterns far exceeding safe competition levels, the organisers, including the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), Mantra Surf Club, and Surfing Swami Foundation, made the precautionary decision to postpone the day's events. The three-day premier surfing competition is the second stop of the National Surfing Championship Series 2025. Earlier this week, due to forecasted adverse weather conditions, the organising committee took the precautionary decision to shift the event venue from Sasihithlu Beach to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. However, the weather remained unfavourable. Day two of the national championship will feature over 50 top surfers, such as Ramesh Budhial, Kishore Kumar, Ajeesh Ali, Harish Muthu, Kamali P, Shrishti Selvam, and Sinchana Gowda, battling it out in four categories: Men's Open, Women's Open, Groms (U-16) Boys, and Groms (U-16) Girls. "All participants assembled at the venue by 8am this morning, marking the commencement of day one of the event. The weather unfolded as forecasted, with heavy rain but minimal wind. Despite the inclement weather, the day was efficiently utilised for the registration process and distribution of event kits, including T-shirts and access bands. A detailed surfers' briefing was subsequently conducted, during which participants were familiarised with the venue and provided with an overview of the schedule and expectations for the upcoming days. While weather conditions limited activity, we remain optimistic that Saturday will bring improved conditions, allowing for the commencement of competitive sessions on the water," said Rammohan Paranjape, vice-president, SFI. "After careful assessment, we found the sea too rough and the intervals between waves too short, making it extremely difficult for surfers to paddle out safely," said Nawaz Jabbar, contest director, NMPA IOS. The NMPA Indian Open of Surfing is presented by Karnataka Tourism, powered by Cycle Pure Agarbatti, and supported by New Mangalore Port Authority.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Climate
- India Gazette
Weather conditions play spoilsport on inaugural day of Indian Open of Surfing
Mangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 30 (ANI): The opening day of the 6th NMPA Indian Open of Surfing, scheduled to take place at Tannirbhavi Eco Beach, was called off today without any competition due to heavy rainfall and unsafe sea conditions resulting from early onset of monsoons and the cyclonic activity in the Arabian Sea. After early morning assessments revealed high swells and erratic wave patterns far exceeding safe competition levels, the organisers, including the Surfing Federation of India, Mantra Surf Club, and Surfing Swami Foundation, made the precautionary decision to postpone the day's events. The three-day premier surfing competition is the second stop of the National Surfing Championship Series 2025. It is being organised by Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by Mantra Surf Club under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India. Earlier this week, due to forecasted adverse weather conditions, the organising committee took the precautionary decision to shift the event venue from Sasihithlu Beach to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. However, the weather remained unfavorable, with persistent heavy rainfall thwarting any competitive activity on day one, even at the revised location, as per a press release. Day two of the national championship will feature over 50 top surfers, such as Ramesh Budhial, Kishore Kumar, Ajeesh Ali, Harish Muthu, Kamali P, Shrishti Selvam, and Sinchana Gowda, battling it out in four categories: Men's Open, Women's Open, Groms (U-16) Boys, and Groms (U-16) Girls. 'All participants assembled at the venue by 8 a.m. this morning, marking the commencement of day one of the event. The weather unfolded as forecasted, with heavy rain but minimal wind. Despite the inclement weather, the day was efficiently utilized for the registration process and distribution of event kits, including t-shirts and access bands. A detailed surfers' briefing was subsequently conducted, during which participants were familiarised with the venue and provided with an overview of the schedule and expectations for the upcoming days. While weather conditions limited activity today, we remain optimistic that tomorrow will bring improved conditions, allowing for the commencement of competitive sessions on the water,' said Rammohan Paranjape, Vice President, Surfing Federation of India. 'Today's conditions proved very challenging. After careful assessment, we found the sea too rough and the intervals between waves too short, making it extremely difficult for surfers to paddle out safely. On top of that, intermittent rain reduced visibility significantly. Considering these factors, we made the decision to call off today's session in the interest of safety. Fortunately, tomorrow's forecast looks more promising, and we hope to resume as planned', said, Nawaz Jabbar, Contest Director, NMPA IOS The NMPA Indian Open of Surfing is presented by Karnataka Tourism, powered by Cycle Pure Agarbathies, and supported by New Mangalore Port Authority. (ANI)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Strong swell may pose challenge for surfers at NMPA IOS
Mangaluru: Stage is set for the sixth edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing (NMPA IOS) at the Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. Organised by Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by the Mantra Surf Club, under the aegis of Surfing Federation of India (SFI), the event will be held from May 30 to June 1. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This will be the second leg of the 2025 National Surfing Championship series. Adding a dramatic layer to this year's edition is the surf forecast, with wave heights predicted to reach 10 to 12 feet, on the competition dates. These powerful swells will demand precision, stamina, and strategy, elevating the thrill and the difficulty for competitors. The cyclonic activity and unpredictable weather patterns over the Arabian Sea may prove to be an unpredictable competitor, and play a spoilsport for the event. The heightened challenge will also have implications for national rankings, especially with the Asian Surf Championship 2025, a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games, on the horizon. Originally scheduled at Sasihithlu Beach, this year's competition is relocated to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach due to unfavourable weather conditions. The new venue promises comparable wave quality while ensuring better safety for surfers and spectators alike. "With a strong field of athletes and a challenging forecast of 10–12 ft waves, we are in for an intense and exciting three days of competition. This event would not be possible without the unwavering support of New Mangalore Port Authority, Karnataka tourism, and Cycle Pure Agarbathis, who continue to champion the growth of surfing in India," said Rammohan Paranjape, vice president of Surfing Federation of India and director at Mantra Surf Club. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the lead-up to the sixth edition of NMPA IOS, local competitions have been aiming to unearth regional surfing talent. These events build momentum ahead of the national championship and set the stage for a sustainable pipeline of talent.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Three-day Indian Open of Surfing from May 30 at Mangalore
Mangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 29 (ANI): The surfing spotlight returns to Karnataka's coastal city of Mangalore as the sixth edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing gets underway tomorrow at the Tannirbhavi Eco Beach. Scheduled from May 30 to June 1. This is the second stop of the 2025 National Surfing Championship Series. Organized by the Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by the Mantra Surf Club under the aegis of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), this year's edition continues to serve as a pivotal leg in the National Championship series, drawing India's finest surfing talent for three days of high-stakes competition and valuable ranking points, as per a press release. The three-day contest will see over 50 top surfers compete across four divisions: Men's Open, Women's Open, Groms (U-16) Boys, and Groms (U-16) Girls. Among the biggest highlights for this round is the return of defending National champion Ramesh Budihal and Kishore Kumar, two of India's top-ranked surfers who missed the previous edition but are now ready to make a statement. They will join an elite lineup that includes Harish Muthu, Kamali P, Ajeesh Ali, Srikanth D, and Sanjay Selvamani. All of them impressed on the Asian circuit in 2024, including standout performances at the Asian Surfing Championship and the Maruhaba Cup. Their performances were key to India securing a 5th-place rank in Asia last year and also securing two quotas for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Adding a dramatic layer to this year's edition is the surf forecast, with wave heights predicted between 10 to 12 feet across the competition dates. These powerful swells will demand precision, stamina, and strategy, elevating both the thrill of the contest and the difficulty for competitors. Due to cyclonic activity and unpredictable weather patterns over the Arabian Sea, the ocean may prove to be an unpredictable competitor and play a spoilsport to the event schedule. The heightened challenge will also have implications for national rankings, especially with the Asian Surf Championship 2025, a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games, on the horizon. Originally scheduled at Sasihithlu Beach, this year's competition has been relocated to Tannirbhavi Eco Beach due to unfavourable weather and wave patterns at the former site. While Sasihithlu has been synonymous with the Indian Open of Surfing for years, the new venue promises comparable wave quality while ensuring better safety conditions for surfers and spectators alike. This year too, the event continues to enjoy unwavering backing from key partners. The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) returns as the Title Sponsor for the second consecutive year, while Karnataka Tourism presents the championship for the sixth year running. Cycle Pure Agarbathies also continues its association as the Powered By sponsor for the second straight year. 'We are excited to bring the sixth edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing to the coast of Mangalore. With a strong field of athletes and a challenging forecast of 10-12 ft waves, we are in for an intense and exciting three days of competition. This event wouldn't be possible without the unwavering support of New Mangalore Port Authority, Karnataka Tourism, and Cycle Pure Agarbathies, who continue to champion the growth of surfing in India,' said Rammohan Paranjape, Vice President of Surfing Federation of India and Director at Mantra Surf Club. In the lead-up to the sixth edition of NMPA IOS, local Grom events have been underway, aiming to unearth the next wave of surfing talent in the region. These grassroots competitions not only build momentum ahead of the national championship, but also set the stage for a sustainable pipeline of talent. (ANI)
