Local surfers make a mark in maiden surfing event

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 30, 2016: It is enthusiastically noted that Sinchana Gowda and Tanvi J. from Mangaluru and Chinmayee Mayya from Udupi made a mark in the maiden Indian Open of Surfing held at Sasihithlu beach near here. The three-day event concluded yesterday,Sunday May 29.

Sinchana and Tanvi stood first and third respectively, while  Chinmayee Mayya finished second in women surfing.  Their positions interchanged in the stand-up peddling event for women in which  Tanvi finished first while Sinchana Gowda came third. Vilassini Sundar from Chennai finished third in this event.

The local surfers have undergone surfing training at the Mantra Surf Club, which is the co-host of the three-day event.  At least 95 surfers from different parts of the country and abroad took part in the three-day event organised jointly by Dakshina Kannada district administration, Tourism Department, Surfing Federation of India, Mantra Surf Club and the newly-formed Kanara Surfing and Water Sports Promotion Council.

In the open category surfing, Samai Reboul from Auroville stood first, while Manikandan from Chennai and Bazile Pinel stood second and third respectively.   In the surfing for Under 16 category, Percival Fayon from Puducherry stood first followed by Sanjay Selvamani and Manikandan from Tamil Nadu in the second and third place respectively. Raghul Govind, Surya P. and Ajith Kumar, all from Chennai, finished first, second and third in the surfing for juniors (17-22 years) category.

In the seniors (23-28 years) category, Dharani Selvakumar, Raghul Paneer and Manikandan D., all from Chennai came first, second and third respectively. In the Masters (29 and above) category, Moorthy Megavan from Chennai came first, while Santosh Moorthy from Mahabalipuram and Velu from Puducherry came second and third respectively. In the men’s stand-up paddling category, Sekhar Pachai stood first, while Murthy Meghavan and Vicky V. came second and third respectively.

 Reboul, the winner in open category, was given a prize money of Rs. 50,000, while the runners-up received Rs. 25,000.

The first, second and third place holders in the remaining categories were given a prize money of Rs. 25,000, Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

People turned up in large numbers on all the three days of the event. Organisers and police had a hard time controlling traffic movement on the narrow stretch of road leading to the beach. But good efforts were made by all concerned.