Ramesh Budihal and Kishore Kumar have made their way into the semifinals of the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, marking a historic achievement as it is the first occasion Indian athletes have advanced to this stage in the Men’s Open category.

Budihal, who competed in the first heat of the day, showcased an impressive performance with a score of 14.84, surpassing Neil Sanchez from the Philippines. “This is the moment we’ve been waiting for,” Budihal remarked, reflecting on his missed chance last year and his resolve to seize this opportunity.

Kishore Kumar, who previously made a splash in the Under-18 category in 2024, continued his ascent by finishing second in his heat with a score of 10.50. His tactical approach and understanding of Mahabalipuram’s surf conditions enabled him to defeat Japan’s Kei Kobayashi in a significant upset.

India now celebrates two semifinal spots, with Srikanth D narrowly falling short. The semifinal lineup features surfers from Indonesia, China, South Korea, and the Philippines, in addition to Budihal and Kishore.