Ramesh Budihal and Kishore Kumar have stormed into the semifinals of the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, marking the first time Indian athletes have reached this stage in the Men’s Open category.
Budihal, competing in the first heat of the day, delivered a commanding performance with a score of 14.84, outpacing Neil Sanchez of the Philippines. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for,” said Budihal, reflecting on his missed opportunity last year and his determination to make it count.
Kishore Kumar, who previously made waves in the Under-18 category in 2024, continued his rise by placing second in his heat with 10.50. His strategic approach and familiarity with Mahabalipuram’s surf conditions helped him overcome Japan’s Kei Kobayashi in a major upset.
India now celebrates two semifinal berths, with Srikanth D narrowly missing out. The semifinal lineup includes surfers from Indonesia, China, South Korea, and the Philippines, alongside Budihal and Kishore.
