Asian Games: India’s Surfing Debut Campaign Ends Without Medal

Surfing is making its Asian Games debut in 2026, with India sending a four-member contingent to compete in the men's and women's shortboard events at Pacific Long Beach in Tahara.

Kishore was the final Indian surfer remaining in the competition. His campaign ended with an 8.53-5.37 defeat against the Philippines' Toby Espejon in the quarter-finals.

Espejon registered scores of 5.50 and 3.03 for his two counting waves, while Kishore managed 3.00 and 2.37.

In surfing, competitors are judged on individual waves, with their two highest scores combined to determine their final tally. Each wave carries a maximum score of 10 points, giving a possible combined score of 20.

Kishore had produced a strong run to reach the last eight. He defeated China's Ma Wensong 9.76-8.80 in the third round after topping his opening-round heat with a score of 9.33.

India's other men's shortboard competitor, Sivaraj Babu, also advanced beyond the opening round. He defeated Iran's Davoud Khadir 8.96-3.60 in the second round before his campaign ended in the following stage.

Sivaraj was beaten 11.50-7.83 by the Philippines' Jayuard Alciso in the third round.

In the women's shortboard competition, both Indian entrants were eliminated in the third round. Kamali Prakash lost 5.93-1.64 to Indonesia's Jasmine Michelle Studer, while Sugar Shanti Gayen was defeated 14.60-5.17 by Japan's Minami Nonaka.

Despite the absence of a medal, India's participation marked an important milestone for the country's emerging surfing programme. India secured Asian Games quota places in both men's and women's surfing through the 2024 Asian Surfing Championships in the Maldives, where the Indian team also won its first-ever silver medal at the continental championships.

Surfing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and featured again at Paris 2024. The sport is also scheduled to be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with men's and women's shortboard events set to be held at Trestles State Beach.

India, however, is yet to have a surfer compete at the Olympic Games.