The seventh edition of the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing 2026 reached a decisive stage on Saturday as the Men’s Open semifinalists were confirmed following a day of intense competition at Blue Bay Tannirbhavi Eco Beach in Mangaluru.

With the event playing a key role in India’s Asian Games selection process, the country’s leading surfers battled challenging conditions to secure places in the final rounds.

Ramesh Budihal emerged as the top performer in the Men’s Open quarterfinals, posting an impressive score of 14.83. He was followed by Srikanth D with 13.00, while teenage prospect Kishore Kumar advanced with a score of 11.80.

Also booking semifinal spots were Ajeesh Ali (9.93), Sanjay Selvamani (9.57) and Shivaraj Babu (8.76).

Earlier in the day, Kishore topped the second-round standings with 14.17 points, ahead of Ajeesh Ali (13.33) and Ramesh Budihal (13.00), as 24 surfers competed for quarterfinal berths.

Kamali Moorthy cruises into junior girls final

The junior categories also produced strong performances ahead of the final day.

In the Under-18 Boys division, Harish P (13.60), Tayin Arun (12.67), Som Sethi (12.00), Yogesh A (11.34), Prahlad Sriram (9.40) and Pradeep Pujar (6.56) advanced to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Kamali Moorthy dominated the Under-18 Girls semifinals, registering a score of 12.44 to comfortably qualify for the final. Aadya Singh, Saanvi Hegde and Dhamayanthi Sriram also progressed.

In the Under-14 Boys category, Harish P led the qualifiers with 14.40, while Sheik Davudh S, Yogesh A and Prahlad Sriram secured the remaining final spots.

The Under-14 Girls final lineup was completed by Dhamayanthi Sriram, Sanvita Kundar, Arabolu Nethra and Gauri Srimushnam.

With national ranking points and potential Asian Games selection implications at stake, the championship is set for an exciting conclusion on Sunday as India’s top surfers battle for titles in Mangaluru.