Chennai, NFAPost: Ramesh Budihal rode the waves of history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian surfer to win bronze medal in the Asian Surfing Championship, taking place at the iconic Point Break in Mamallapuram.
Despite the challenging conditions, surfing sensation from Kovalam in Kerala Ramesh Budihal secured the third place in his final heat. He had a touch time during the semifinal to defeat China’s Shidong Wu (9.03) and compatriot Kishore Kumar (8.10) to enter the last four. Indonesia’s Pajar Ariyana (13.83) claimed the top spot.
Ramesh Budihal’s journey began in Kovalam, Kerala, where he joined the Sebastian Indian Social Project (SISP) and started surfing with the Kovalam Surf Club.
“I didn’t get much support at first. My family was afraid of getting lost at sea and worried about my future. But when I started winning events, they began to support me,” said Ramesh Budihal.
Ramesh Budihal has steadily built his game over the last few years. He has consistently ranked in the top three of the National Surf Series, and in 2024, he finished the season as India’s No. 1 male surfer.
He won the bronze medal fighting a tough competition from Indonesian stars Mega Artana and Ariyana, and South Korea’s Kanoa Heejae. He has already contributed valuable points for India to secure additional quotas for the 2026 Asian Games.
