CHENNAI: India will send its first-ever four-member surfing team for the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador from May 30 to June 7. Three out of the four surfers are from Tamil Nadu.
Ajeesh Ali and Sanjay Selvamani are from the fishing hamlet of Kovalam and work as surf instructors, while Sivaraj Babu is from Mahabalipuram. Ramesh Budhihal hails from Kerala.
Speaking on the eve of departure, Arun Vasu, the president of the Surfing Federation of India, said, "I am so proud and happy to announce that this is a historical moment where India is being represented in this World event. It will also put India on the world map of being a nation that will hopefully participate in the surfing event at the Olympics. The focus is on getting a team qualified for the 2028 Olympics. Our focus at SFI will be on increasing awareness among children and getting more women into the sport. There are around 54 countries which will be taking part in the world surfing games. It's going to be very interesting to see where India will finish, this being their first time. We also have plans to send a team for the Asian surfing championship to be held at Maldives in July."
India's head coach Patrick Renaud is confident that the Indian team selected will match international standards to compete with the world's best surfers including past and present World Surfing Champions. Speaking on the occasion, he said, "We are thrilled to announce that Team India will be competing in their first International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games, an Olympic Qualification event in El Salvador from 29 May - 7th June. The ISA World Surfing Games is the world's largest and most prestigious surfing event which will see the top athletes from over 30 nations competing to acclaim a position on the podium and selection for the 2024 Olympic Games. We have worked hard and remained focused throughout our training camps in India and Sri Lanka in preparation for the big stage, are super excited to be competing."
