Little Andaman Pro 2026: Tamil Nadu Surfers Shine on Opening Day

Little Andaman — The inaugural Little Andaman Pro 2026 kicked off with strong performances from Tamil Nadu surfers, who dominated the opening day of India’s first-ever national surfing and stand-up paddling championship in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The competition began on Friday at the scenic Butler Bay beach, setting an energetic tone for the days ahead.

In the Men’s Open surfing category, teenage standout Kishore Kumar impressed with a score of 15.00, while Sivaraj Babu edged ahead with 15.17. Srikanth D (13.00) and Ramesh Budhial (13.67) also delivered solid performances, highlighting the depth of talent on display.

On the women’s side, Kamali Moorthy, Shrishti Selvam, and Sugar Shanti Banarase put up confident performances to book their places in the quarterfinals, scheduled for Saturday.

Organised by the Surfing Federation of India and sponsored by Andaman Tourism, the event saw 38 surfers compete across 10 heats in Round 1 of the Men’s Open category. The top two from each heat advanced directly to Round 3, while the remaining surfers will battle it out in the repechage round for another chance to progress.

Several other surfers also secured their spots in Round 3 with notable scores, while others will look to bounce back in the repechage heats on Day 2. The Women’s Open category followed a similar format, with additional competitors qualifying for the quarterfinals and a few heading into repechage rounds.

Competition Director Nawaz Jabbar noted that the day’s conditions were ideal, with consistent two- to three-foot waves allowing uninterrupted action. He also highlighted Butler Bay’s reef break as a unique challenge, offering a different experience compared to mainland surfing spots.

The day also featured Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) events. In the Men’s Sprint category, Sekar Patchai clocked the fastest time in the 200m race, narrowly ahead of Dinesh Selvamani. Both, along with Manikandan M and Rajesh D, advanced to the semi-finals.

Patchai continued his dominance in the Men’s SUP Technical category as well, posting the fastest time in the 2km race and leading a strong lineup into the finals.

Marking the start of India’s surfing season, the championship has attracted top athletes from across the country and underlines the Andaman & Nicobar Islands’ growing reputation as a surfing destination. With crucial repechage rounds and knockout qualifications coming up, Day 2 is expected to bring even more intense competition at Butler Bay.

With inputs from IANS