Ramesh Budihal wins historic medal for India at Asian Surfing Championships 2025

This is India’s first-ever continental surfing medal.

Day 7 of the ASF Asian Surfing Championships 2025 saw the world-class waves of Mahabalipuram set the stage for a day of intense finals, national pride, and historic milestones.

For the first time ever, an Indian surfer has claimed a medal at the continental level — Ramesh Budihal secured the bronze medal in the Open Men’s division, a landmark achievement for Indian surfing.

“This is a proud and unforgettable day for Indian surfing to see the tricolour rise on the podium at an Asian championship, with an Indian surfer winning bronze, is nothing short of historic.

Ramesh’s achievement proves that India has arrived on the Asian surfing map, and it will inspire countless young surfers to dream bigger and push harder,” said Mr. Arun Vasu, President of the Surfing Federation of India.

🚨 HISTORY CREATED🚨EVERY INDIAN SHOULD BE PROUD🇮🇳BEST EVER FINISH BY INDIAN IN ASIAN SURFING 🌊 – 3RD PLACERamesh Budihal did decently in the finals of Asian Surfing C'ships 2025 – and finished 3️⃣rd in Open Men CategoryRamesh scored 12.60 [6.43, 6.17] pic.twitter.com/CgnAAiLmgf

— SPORTS ARENA🇮🇳 (@SportsArena1234) August 10, 2025

The day featured finals across Open Men, Open Women, Under-18 Boys, and Under-18 Girls, with Asia’s best surfers battling in four-person heats for podium glory. The performances highlighted the skill, resilience, and competitive spirit defining this year’s championship.

Open men’s final: Korea’s Kanoa Heejae claims gold

Mahabalipuram’s right-hand point break delivered flawless finals conditions for the Open Men’s showdown, where Kanoa Heejae (KOR) rose to the top with aggressive rail work, precise timing, and a heat-winning score of 15.17, edging out Indonesia’s Pajar Ariyana by just 0.6 points.

• Gold – Kanoa Heejae (KOR) – 15.17 (Won by 0.6) – A high-performance display of speed, vertical turns, and wave control that secured him the top podium spot.

• Silver – Pajar Ariyana (INA) – 14.57 – Smooth, flowing lines and critical maneuvers kept him in contention until the final minutes.

• Bronze – Ramesh Budihal (IND) – 12.60 – Combined clean, controlled turns with smart positioning to outscore Mega Artana and secure India’s first-ever continental surfing medal.

• 4th Place – Mega Artana (INA) – 9.97 – Showed moments of brilliance but couldn’t match the scoring pace of the leaders.

For Ramesh Budihal, the bronze medal is more than just a podium finish — it’s a historic breakthrough for Indian surfing.

As the first Indian to medal at the ASF Asian Surfing Championships, Ramesh’s achievement marks a turning point for the sport in India, proving that homegrown talent can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Asia’s best.

Open women’s final: Japan’s Anri Matsuno clinches gold in a commanding finish

The Open Women’s final was a showcase of style, technical precision, and wave mastery, with Anri Matsuno (JPN) delivering a championship-winning performance marked by speed, power, and flawless execution.

Her score of 14.90 put her ahead of compatriot Sumomo Sato in an all-Japan battle for gold and silver.

• Gold – Anri Matsuno (JPN) – 14.90 (Won by 1.2) – Combined seamless rail transitions with sharp, vertical turns to secure the top spot.

• Silver – Sumomo Sato (JPN) – 13.70 – Consistent and stylish surfing kept her within striking distance of gold until the final minutes.

• Bronze – Isabel Higgs (THA) – 11.76 – Showed solid form and competitive drive to claim Thailand’s place on the podium.

• 4th Place – Shuhan Jin (CHN) – 9.43 – Opened strong but was unable to find the scoring waves to challenge the leaders.

Japan’s dominance in the women’s division underscored their depth of talent, with both Matsuno and Sato proving they can perform under pressure on Asia’s biggest stage.

U18 boys’ final: Korea’s Kanoa Heejae takes gold in a standout junior performance

The Under-18 Boys’ final was a thrilling showcase of future champions, with Kanoa Heejae (KOR) once again proving his dominance. Backed by sharp, high-scoring rides and confident heat management, he clinched the gold over China’s rising stars.

• Gold – Kanoa Heejae (KOR) – 14.33 (Won by 1.23) – Combined fast rail work with strong finishing maneuvers to secure the top spot.

• Silver – Shidong Wu (CHN) – 13.10 – Maintained pressure with clean, powerful surfing that kept the heat competitive until the last exchange.

• Bronze – Shulou Jiang (CHN) – 8.00 – Opened with a promising wave but struggled to find the scores needed to challenge for silver.

• 4th Place – Laihao Zhang (CHN) – 7.17 – Showed solid fundamentals but was unable to match the leaders’ scoring pace.

Kanoa’s win capped a stellar championship for the Korean surfer, who has now proven himself as one of Asia’s brightest junior talents.

U18 Girls’ Final: China’s Siqi Yang Leads a Commanding 1–2 Finish

China continued its stronghold on the women’s junior category as Siqi Yang (CHN) delivered a decisive victory, building an early lead and extending it with high-scoring rides that sealed the gold by over four points.

• Gold – Siqi Yang (CHN) – 14.50 (Won by 4.17) – Showed impeccable wave choice and execution, setting the performance benchmark early.

• Silver – Shuhan Jin (CHN) – 10.33 – Consistent surfing secured China both top spots on the podium.

• Bronze – Isabel Higgs (THA) – 8.10 – Demonstrated resilience and style to earn Thailand a junior medal.

• 4th Place – Shin Joobin (KOR) – 4.90 – Fought hard in challenging conditions but couldn’t find the waves to climb the standings.

The result reaffirmed China’s depth of talent in the junior women’s division, with Siqi Yang’s gold cementing her status as one of the region’s rising stars.

With the finals complete, the ASF Asian Surfing Championships 2025 concluded in spectacular style at Mahabalipuram, crowning champions across four divisions and showcasing the depth of Asian surfing talent.

From Korea’s Kanoa Heejae and Japan’s Anri Matsuno dominating the Open categories, to junior triumphs by Korea’s Kanoa Heejae and China’s Siqi Yang, the event delivered world-class performances in every heat.

For India, the defining moment came with Ramesh Budihal’s bronze medal in the Open Men’s final — the nation’s first-ever continental surfing medal and a milestone that will inspire generations to come.

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