In a sport where the biggest waves and richest resources belong to other nations, an Indian surfer reaching the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) final once seemed out of reach. Yet, Ramesh Budihal has made a mark, rising from the modest swells of Kovalam to carve his name into history.
At Mahabalipuram, the ocean didn’t make it easy, and it was difficult to settle into a rhythm. “It wasn’t the start I wanted,” he said. “Somehow, I got some waves and put a score. I wasn’t nervous, I just knew I had to reset my mind in the last few minutes, pick the right wave, and go for it.”
Trailing far behind Indonesian leader Pajar Ariyani (13.83), Budihal needed only second place to reach the last four. Two crucial rides – 5.50 and 5.93 – pushed him to 11.43, ahead of China’s Shidong Wu (9.03) and compatriot Kishore Kumar (8.10).
When the horn sounded, the Indian team charged into the water to greet its finalist – a moment Budihal had long chased was finally here.
From Kovalam’s shore to the continental stage
The journey leading up to this historic moment began far away from the glare of competition. Raised along the coast of Kovalam, Kerala, Budihal’s first contact with the sport came through the Kovalam Surf Club and the Sebastian Indian Social Project (SISP), a Belgian-run initiative that introduced surfing to underprivileged children.
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“The ocean felt like home. But my family didn’t see it that way at first. They thought it was dangerous and didn’t know what the surfing future could hold. I even had to sneak out to surf,” he recalled.
Ramesh with the Indian team coach, Samai Reboul.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Ramesh with the Indian team coach, Samai Reboul.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Money was a constant challenge. Surfboards, wetsuits, and competition travel came with price tags far beyond what most young surfers could afford. “There’s no steady income from surfing here. Most of the athletes face financial problems,” said Budihal.
To fund his training, he taught lessons between practice sessions and received occasional sponsorships, including a Coca-Cola-backed Olympic promotion in 2024 – small boosts that kept his career afloat and his competitive edge sharp.
Against these odds, Budihal steadily built his game. He has been ranked in the top three of the National Surf Series for the last four years, and in 2024, he finished the season as India’s No. 1 male surfer.
Multiple victories at the Indian Open of Surfing and the Mahabs Point Break Challenge confirmed his dominance at home, while a strong showing at the 2023 ISA World Surfing Games gave him vital experience against the sport’s global heavyweights.
Yet, in a decision that still stings, he did not make the cut for the national team competing at last year’s ASC in the Maldives. “That hurt,” he admitted, “but it also motivated me to work towards my goal this year. ”
Prepared for the moment
Arun Vasu, president of the Surfing Federation of India (SFI), who has followed Budihal’s journey from early on, told Sportstar: ‘He’s always had the potential. He was one of the early sparks we had.”
With new determination, Budihal ramped up his preparation. A two-week-long training with the 12-member Indian team in Mahabalipuram helped him get ready for the challenge. “Even if there are no waves, you have to train,” he said. “No matter what, you have to prepare mentally and physically. It could be the same in an event, you never know.”
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That mindset, he believes, made the difference when the pressure peaked in Mahabalipuram. That readiness paid off in the semifinals, securing India valuable ranking points and additional slots for the 2026 Asian Games.
The upcoming Asiad will mark surfing’s debut in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. India had already secured a men’s and women’s quota for the 2026 Games, and can clinch two more based on the final rankings at the end of the ongoing Championships.
He will face stiff competition from Indonesian stars Mega Artana and Ariyana, and South Korea’s Kanoa Heejae, all vying for the top spot. But whatever the outcome, Budihal’s historic run marks more than a personal victory, but a signal that Indian surfing’s next chapter is ready to be written.
