Latest news with #RameshBudihal
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Surfer Ramesh first Indian to enter Asian C'ship final
CHENNAI: Saturday will go down as a memorable day for Ramesh Budihal as he became the first-ever surfer from India to reach a final of the Asian Surfing Championship, which is being held at Mahabalipuram. In a sport where India is still playing catch-up at the world level, Ramesh's feat is a welcome boost for the country. The outcome is bound to add more self-belief in the minds of the rest of aspirants from India. Ramesh is one of the talents from the coast of Kovalam, Kerala, he made everyone sit up and take notice on the day. The win on Saturday did not come easily and Ramesh had to be at his very best to get the desired result. "Yeah, I'm really grateful to be in the final. I wasn't expecting to be in the final because I didn't know how I was going to feel in the semifinals. I just wanted to put a score on the board so that I could be in the final and here I am. Now it feels great," said an elated Ramesh. "It wasn't the start I wanted. Somehow, I got some waves and put a score. I wasn't nervous, I just knew I had to reset my mind in the last few minutes, pick the right wave, and go for it," he added. Ramesh started the day topping his quarterfinal heat race with a score of 14.84 points ahead of Philippines' Neil Sanches (12.80 points). In the semifinal, Ramesh continued his solid effort to score 11.43 points to finish second behind Indonesia's Pajar Ariyana 13.83, and it ensured his maiden final berth at the continental event. Ramesh grew up in Kovalam and was introduced to the sport by the Kovalam Surf Club. From then on, he has had a steady rise and his performances in the Indian Open Surfing and the Mahabs Point Break Challenge had helped him learn vital skills. His solid performance at the ISA World Surfing Games in 2023 had also provided him good exposure. Plus, the two-week-long training with the Indian team in Mahabalipuram helped him prepare for the Asian meet. ''The camp was good preparation for the ASC. Since the meet (Asian championship) was also to be at the same place it (training) was very handy. But we were aware that on a given day, conditions change and we have to adapt. This thought process helped me perform,'' said Ramesh. He will face tough competition in the final, but whatever the outcome it will be a learning experience for him.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Ramesh Budihal waves history, first Indian to enter finals in Asian Surfing event
Chennai, Aug 9 (UNI) Top Indian surfer Ramesh Budihal scripted history by becoming the first Indian to make it to the finals of the ASF Asian Surfing Championships 2025, being held at Mahabaipuram, about 50 km from here, today. The Day 6 of the event witnessed high drams, exceptional performances, and a moment that will be etched in India's sporting history. Following the unprecedented qualification of four Indian surfers to the Quarterfinals yesterday, all eyes were on Mahabalipuram's famed right-hand point break today as the competitions entered the decisive knockout stages. With key heats in the Open Men's Quarterfinals and Semifinals, Open Women's Semifinals, U18 Boys' Quarterfinals, and U18 Girls' Quarterfinals, the day was packed with knockout battles, high-pressure performances, and moments of history in the making. Team India entered the day with three surfers in the Open Men's Quarterfinals and it became a day that will go down in Indian surfing history. India's top Surfer, Ramesh Budihal 14.84 displayed masterful wave selection and composure under pressure in Quarterfinal Heat 1, holding off Neil Sanchez (PHL) – 12.80 to claim the first place. Advancing to the Semi Finals, Ramesh maintained his momentum with a well-timed, high scoring performance that earned him second place in a tense heat, securing a spot in the Final--the first-ever Indian surfer to achieve this milestone at a continental championship. India's Kishore Kumar 10.50 fought hard in Quarterfinal Heat 4, linking committed turns and critical maneuvers. Despite his solid score, he narrowly missed Semifinal qualification behind Eduardo Alciso (PHL) – 12.03. Srikanth D of India – 10.90 brought consistency and flow in Quarterfinal Heat 3, battling closely with Kanoa Heejae (KOR) – 10.94 but missing advancement by a razor-thin margin. The collective performance reinforced India's growing stature in the Asian surfing circuit, while Ramesh's final berth stood as a landmark achievement. MORE UNI GV 1701
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Budihal reaches historic Asian Surfing Championship final
Ramesh Budihal rode the waves of history on Saturday, becoming the first Indian surfer to reach the final of the Asian Surfing Championship, taking place at the iconic Point Break in Mamallapuram. Despite the challenging conditions, Budihal secured the second place in his semifinal heat with two crucial rides of 5.50 and 5.93 for a total of 11.43 points. The Indian edged China's Shidong Wu (9.03) and compatriot Kishore Kumar (8.10) to enter the last four. Indonesia's Pajar Ariyana (13.83) claimed the top spot. 'I'm really grateful to be in the final. I wasn't expecting myself to get through,' Budihal said. 'My start wasn't good, and it was difficult to get the flow back. But I knew I needed to reset my mind in the last few minutes, pick the right wave, and go for it.' Budihal's journey began in Kovalam, Kerala, where he joined the Sebastian Indian Social Project (SISP) and started surfing with the Kovalam Surf Club. 'I didn't get much support at first. My family was afraid of getting lost at sea and worried about my future. But when I started winning events, they began to support me.' Budihal has steadily built his game over the last few years. He has consistently ranked in the top three of the National Surf Series, and in 2024, he finished the season as India's No. 1 male surfer. 'Budihal has always had the potential. He was one of the early sparks we had,' Arun Vasu, president of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), told The Hindu. Tough competition Budihal now faces tough competition from Indonesian stars Mega Artana and Ariyana, and South Korea's Kanoa Heejae, all vying for the crown. He has already contributed valuable points for India to secure additional quotas for the 2026 Asian Games.
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
India's Ramesh, Kishore, Srikanth enter quarterfinals of Asian Surfing
Chennai, Aug 8 (PTI) Indian surfers shone brightly as Ramesh Budihal, Kishore Kumar and D. Srikanth entered the quarterfinals in the Open Men's category on the fifth day of the Asian Surfing Championships here on Friday. Budihal (11 points) displayed impeccable control in his third round contest to dominate his heat with a composed and clinical approach, finishing second behind Indonesia's Mega Artana (12.50 points). Kishore was equally impressive, logging 10.14 points in his third round outing, while, Srikanth (8.90 points) too produced a solid show as they progressed to the last eight stage. The day got sweeter for India as Harish P (9.50 points) moved into quarterfinals of the Under-18 segment. However, India's Tayin Arun and Prahlad Sriram were eliminated in the third round. In the U-18 girls' section, Aadya Singh and Dhamayanthi Sriram entered the third round after producing impressive efforts in the Repechage round two. But Saanvi Hegde was ousted in the Repechage round. PTI KHS view comments First Published: August 08, 2025, 22:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
ASF Asian Surfing Championships 2025: Four Indians make it to quarterfinals on day 5
Four Indian surfers made it to the quarterfinals of the ASF Asian Surfing Championships 2025 across key divisions marking the most successful performance by Team India in the event's history on the sun-drenched shores of Tamil Nadu on Friday. History was made on the fifth day of the tournament, as four Indian surfers qualified for the quarterfinals across key divisions marking the most successful performance by Team India in the event's history. India's top surfer, Ramesh Budihal (11.00) displayed impeccable control and timing, carving out critical turns and dominating his heat with a composed and clinical approach with just few points behind Indonesia's Mega Artana (12.50). ALSO READ | Day 1 of NMP Indian Open of Surfing in Mangaluru washed out due to heavy rainfall Kishore Kumar (10.14), known for his aggressive style, impressed both the crowd and the judges with a bold series of vertical snaps and clean finishes. while, Srikanth D (8.90) showed good rhythm and adapted well to the shifting swell to outpace seasoned regional competitors. In the fiercely competitive Under-18 Boys' division, Harish P (IND) - 9.50 carried the flag for India by advancing to the quarterfinals. However, it was a bittersweet round for the Indian team as Tayin Arun (IND) and Prahlad Sriram (IND) were eliminated despite valiant efforts. The repechage round 2 of the U18 Girls division gave Indian surfers a second shot. Aadya Singh and Dhamayanthi Sriram seized the opportunity with determination. The women's quarterfinal saw Sumomo Sato of Japan - 11.00 (Won by 2.34), Isabel Higgs of Thailand - 10.90 (Won by 2.4) and Chinese surfer Shuhan Jin - 11.97 produced some of the most technically polished surfing of the championships so far.
