Top Indian surfers gear up for the Indian Open of Surfing

Ishita Malaviya, Tanvi Jagdish, Manikandan, Murthy Megavan and Dharani Selvakumar among the top Indian Surfers to compete at the event.

(From left to right) Surfers Aneesha Nayak, Sinchana Gowda, Ishita Malviya and Tanvi Jagdish.

The Surfing Federation of India, the sport’s national governing body, last week announced the launch of the second edition of the Indian open of Surfing. The event is set to get under way at Mangaluru’s Sasihithlu Beach from 26th May to 28th.

Here’s a look at the top surfers who will be competing at the Indian Open of Surfing.

Tanvi Jagdish — Upcoming surfer and a top ranked stand-up paddler, Tanvi Jagdish is the surfer to look out for at the event. She recently achieved a major international glory by coming third in stand-up paddling (SUP) event at the West Marine Carolina Cup in South Africa. Tanvi has been the national champion in the SUP surfing and SUP racing since 2014, and the 17-year-old Mangalorian girl will be keen to impress in the upcoming event in her home town.

Ishita Malaviya — Ishita is India's first professional female surfer. Shebegan surfing in 2007 after meeting a German exchange student and currently runs a surfing club named the Shaka Surf Club as well as a camp called Camp Namaloha in Coastal Karnataka in India.

Manikandan — The 23 year-old Manikandan. popularly known as Appu, has achieved quite a lot in the sport of surfing. Appu hails from a small fishermen family in Kovalam beach, Tamil Nadu. About ten years ago he along with some friends were inspired by an Australian to catch the first wave after multiple attempts.

Murthy Megavan — From an undistinguished boy who surfed the waves using flotsam and Styrofoam boards, to becoming a champion surfboarder, Murthy Megavan has come a long way. He is at the centre of an upcoming surf school serving as a source of inspiration for aspiring surfers, trainers, community builders and humanity – lifting the lives of many, like a rising tide does.

Dharani Selvakumar — Rarely do we get to see a computer science engineering graduate, turn his hobby into a profession in this country. This 23 year old from Chennai also works as an instructor at the ‘Covelong Point Social Surf School’. Dharani is also famous for coaching celebrities from the film industry which includes the likes of Arya, Bharath and Jiiva. He has been a national Champion at the Indian Open of Surfing in 2016.