Ramesh Budihal made history by winning the bronze medal in the Open Men’s final at the 2025 Asian Surfing Championships held in Mahabalipuram, securing India’s first-ever individual continental surfing medal. Raised in Kovalam, Kerala, Ramesh first stepped on a surfboard at age five through a community outreach project.
Despite financial difficulties and initial parental hesitation, he persevered by teaching surf lessons and seeking sponsorships. His composed performance in the finals earned him a score of 12.60 points, placing ahead of Indonesia’s Mega Artana and behind gold medallist South Korea’s Kanoa Heejae.
A Historic Breakthrough on the Waves
At the Asian Surfing Championships 2025, held on the coasts of Mahabalipuram, Ramesh Budihal emerged as a trailblazer for Indian surfing. He opened his final heat with a wave scored 6.17 points, setting a strong pace against elite surfers from across Asia.
His total score of 12.60 points earned him the bronze, a landmark achievement considering India has traditionally not been recognised as a surfing nation. South Korea’s Kanoa Heejae won gold with 15.17 points, while Indonesia’s Mega Artana took silver.
The event was characterised by some of the best waves seen in recent championships, and the support from the local crowd was heartfelt and loud, adding to the energy fueling Ramesh’s performance. India Surfing Team coach Samai Reboul, a veteran mentor with decades of experience nurturing Indian surfers, praised Ramesh’s ‘composed and tactical’ approach while highlighting the significance of this milestone for the sport nationally.
From Humble Beginnings to Continental Glory
Ramesh’s inspiring journey began in Kovalam, Kerala, where he was introduced to surfing at the tender age of five through a Belgian-run nonprofit project aimed at underprivileged children. His parents were initially hesitant about this unconventional sporting path, but after he achieved his first podium finish in 2013, they became supportive of his ambitions.
Surfing as a sport is financially demanding, surfboards, wetsuits, travel, and competition fees add up quickly. Undeterred, Ramesh funded his training by teaching surfing lessons locally and chasing sponsorship opportunities, demonstrating remarkable grit and self-reliance. The difficult 2024 season, marked by a personal loss and missed qualification chances, made his 2025 comeback all the more impressive.
Moreover, India’s surfing scene is showing promising growth with teammates Kishore Kumar and Srikanth D advancing deep into the championships, reaching semifinals and quarterfinals, respectively. This growing presence reflects the slow but steady rise of surfing in India’s coastal sporting culture.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Ramesh Budihal’s bronze medal is a watershed moment for Indian sports, signalling the emergence of athletes pushing India into new, lesser-explored disciplines. His story exemplifies how grassroots initiatives, community support, and personal resilience play crucial roles in nurturing talent beyond traditional sports.
This achievement calls for greater institutional encouragement, access to resources, and broader recognition of diverse sports to unlock the full potential of India’s youthful athletic talent pool.
