India secured a silver medal at the Maruhaba Cup, a prestigious team event at the Asian Surfing Championships 2024, held in Thulusdhoo, Maldives, on Sunday.
The Indian team, consisting of Kamali P, Ajeesh Ali, Srikanth D, and Sanjay Selvamani, delivered an impressive performance throughout the competition. However, in the final, Japan clinched the gold medal with a dominant score of 58.40. India followed with a score of 24.13, securing second place. Taipei claimed the bronze with a score of 23.93, while China finished fourth with 22.10 points.
Earlier in the competition, the Indian team showcased their skills by winning the Heat 2 semi-final with a total score of 32.16. Taipei placed second in the semi-final with 29.70 points, and the Republic of Korea finished third with a score of 27.74.
This silver medal win comes just a day after India secured its first-ever quota in surfing for the Asian Games, marking a significant achievement for the sport in the country. Both the Indian men’s and women’s surfing teams are now set to compete in the Asian Games 2026, scheduled to be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
In individual performances, Harish Muthu made history by becoming the first Indian surfer to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Asian Surfing Championships. Muthu’s remarkable run came to an end in a fiercely contested quarter-final round, but his efforts have left a lasting impact on the Indian surfing community.