Harish Muthu and Kishore Kumar have etched their names in the annals of Indian surfing history by becoming the first Indians to reach the quarterfinals of the prestigious Asian Surfing Championships 2024. The competition, which serves as a qualifier for the Asian Games 2026, is being held at Thulusdhoo in the Maldives and has seen eight Indian surfers competing across four categories.
Harish Muthu, hailing from Tamil Nadu, showcased remarkable skill and determination in the men’s open category. Despite facing stiff competition from Indonesia’s Joi Satriawan and Japan’s Kaisei Adachi, who finished first and second respectively, Harish secured a commendable third-place finish in the quarterfinals with a score of 6.76. His journey to the quarterfinals was equally impressive, as he finished second in Heat 1 of Round 3, achieving a score of 8.43 with his best two scores being 5.33 and 3.10 across four waves.
In the U-18 category, Indian child prodigy Kishore Kumar made waves by securing his place in the quarterfinals with a stellar performance. Kishore achieved a score of 14.33 in Round 3, the highest by any surfer in the competition so far. His two best wave scores were 6.83 and 7.5, which propelled him to the top of Heat 2. Kishore is now set to face off against Chinese Taipei’s John Chan and Maldives’ Sayyid Salahudheen in the quarterfinals, scheduled for tomorrow.
Reflecting on his achievement, Harish Muthu expressed pride in his performance despite not advancing to the semifinals. “Competing against some of the top-ranked surfers in Asia has been an incredible experience. I have learned so much and will use this experience to improve my future performances,” Harish stated.
Arun Vasu, President of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), shared his excitement over the success of Indian surfers on the international stage. “It is exhilarating to see these young Indian surfers not just compete but dominate on the international stage. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and hard work is paying off. These moments are the culmination of countless hours of training, and they are sending a powerful message to the world,” Vasu said.
Vasu further emphasized the significance of these achievements, particularly highlighting the fact that all the Indian surfers competing at the Asian Surfing Championships come from the fishing communities of Tamil Nadu. “Their success is a testament to the passion and dedication they have shown. As a federation, we have focused on nurturing this talent and fostering their competitiveness through year-round competitions. Our ultimate goal is to bring medals home to India through surfing,” he concluded.
As Harish and Kishore continue to break barriers, their achievements mark a significant milestone in Indian surfing, inspiring future generations to aim for the stars.
