Mumbai: The fifth Indian Open of Surfing (IOS), a premier national surfing competition sanctioned by the sport’s governing body in the country, the Surfing Federation of India (SFI) – have announced the New Mangalore Port Authority as their new title sponsors for the 2024 edition, scheduled between 3q May to 2 June at the pristine Sasihithlu Beach in Mangalore. The event will be organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and hosted by the local Mantra Surf Club under the aegis of SFI. Continuing with its record of attracting top corporate sponsorship for the Indian Open of Surfing, the organizers also announced Karnataka Tourism as event partners for the fifth consecutive year. The famous Cycle Pure Agarbatti have also been roped in as the ‘powered by’ sponsors while Explurger has come onboard as a social media app partner exclusively for the very first time to empower the event.
The fifth Indian Open of Surfing is all set to showcase the talent and skills of top Indian surfers which include the likes of Ramesh Budihal, Kishore Kumar, Harish M, Srikanth D, and Manikandan D, Kamali Moorthy, Srishthi Selvam, and Sandhya Arun, as they compete for top honors in four different categories (Men & Women’s Open and Groms U-16 Boys & Girls) in the three-day surfing extravaganza.
“We have eagerly awaited the moment to announce our partnership with the 5th Indian Open of Surfing. The opportunity to support surfing, one of the fastest-growing water sports both nationally and globally, is something we could not pass up. Surfing holds transformative potential for the region, positioning Mangalore as a premier destination for adventure enthusiasts. This, in turn, significantly boosts the local economy and empowers the local communities. We are proud to be part of an initiative that brings such multifaceted benefits to the region,” said, New Mangalore Port Authority chairman Dr Venkata Ramana Akkaraju.
“The Karnataka Government and Karnataka Tourism have been supporting surfing for a long time. This support encourages more people to visit beautiful places like Sasihithlu and explore what the state has to offer in terms of tourism development. I extend my best wishes to everyone involved in this year’s IOS for a fun and successful event”, said Dakshin Kannada M P, IAS, deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan.
"We have been truly impressed by the surging popularity of surfing in India. We are committed to supporting initiatives that align with our values of preserving the ecological surroundings and foster community development. I extend my best wishes to all the athletes and organizers for a successful tournament. Let’s hope to see India rise in this exhilarating sport,” said NR Group managing partner & Cycle Pure Agarbatti MD Arjun Ranga.
“The Indian Open of Surfing embodies the adventurous spirit we cherish at Explurger. Partnering with the Surfing Federation of India underscores our dedication to celebrating the excitement of exploration. We extend our heartfelt wishes to all participants and look forward to many more collaborations," said, Explurger founder & CEO Jitin Bhatia.
Indian Open of Surfing will be the second stop of the National Championship series of the 2024 calendar year, following the International Surfing Festival Kerala 2024, held in March at the beautiful cliff beach of Varkala. The IOS will feature intense rivalry between surfers from the east and west coasts, as these championships carry important ranking points that will determine the surfers' standings at the end of the season.
