Six-Year-Old Udupi Boy Wins State Skateboarding Championship, Qualifies for Nationals

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Nov 8, 2026: Six-year-old Salman Sharik Sheikh, who travelled from Thailand to Bengaluru to compete in the 2026 Karnataka State Skateboarding Championship, has won first place in the Under-8 Street Skateboarding category.

With this achievement, Salman has qualified to represent Karnataka at the National Skateboarding Championship scheduled to be held in Chintamani in December 2026. According to his family, he is the youngest skateboarder from Karnataka to qualify for the national-level competition.

The great-grandson of Imam Saheb (Municipality), who lived near the City Bus Stand in Udupi, Salman is currently studying in Thailand, where he trains at local skateparks. He took up skateboarding at the age of four and participated in competitions in Pattaya, Thailand, at the ages of four and five, earning the distinction of being the youngest participant on both occasions.

Salman’s journey in skateboarding began with learning to balance, overcoming falls and gradually mastering new tricks. His parents, Sharik Hussain and Saniha Sheikh, have played a key role in supporting his training and encouraging him to pursue the sport.

With family roots in Udupi and Mangaluru, Salman’s success and selection to represent Karnataka at the national championship have brought immense pride to his family.