The Surfing Federation of India (SFI) has officially named a four-member Indian surfing team for the 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Surfing will make its debut at the continental event, with the competition scheduled for September 25-29 at Pacific Long Beach in Tahara City, Aichi Prefecture.
Selected Athletes and Reserves
The men's squad comprises Kishore Kumar and Sivaraj Babu, both currently sharing the top spot in the SFI rankings. Kishore Kumar was a semi-finalist at the 2025 Asian Surfing Championships in Mahabalipuram. The reserves for the men's team are Ramesh Budihal, who became the first Indian to win an individual medal at the Asian Surfing Championships with a bronze last year, and Srikanth D, a member of India's silver medal-winning team at the 2024 Asian Championships.
In the women's category, the team features multiple-time national champion and current India No. 1 Kamali Moorthy alongside India No. 2 Sugar Shanti Banarse. Shrishti Selvam and Devi Ramanathan have been named as reserve athletes for the women's squad.
Selection Process
According to an SFI press release earlier this month, the athletes were chosen following recommendations from the SFI Asian Games Selection Committee. The selection process was based on performances in national series events, dedicated selection camps, international competition experience, and evaluations by the national coaching staff. The committee finalized the men's and women's squads after considering these factors.
India's Surfing Squad for the 2026 Asian Games
- Men: Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj Babu; reserves: Ramesh Budihal, Srikanth D.
- Women: Kamali Moorthy, Sugar Shanti Banarse; reserves: Shrishti Selvam, Devi Ramanathan.
The announcement marks a significant milestone for Indian surfing as the sport prepares for its Asian Games debut. The team will aim to make an impact on the continental stage in Japan.
