Ramanath Rai Launches Indian Open of Surfing Website
Mangaluru: The Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment and District minister in-charge Ramanath Rai launched the Indian Open of Surfing website at Hotel Ocean Pearl here on May 12. The president of KCCI Jeevan Saldanha welcomed the gathering.
The Indian Open of Surfing is scheduled to take place during the last week of May this year which is India’s premier surfing competition. Indian Open of Surfing will be hosted at the Sasihithlu beach, Mangaluru from May 26 to 28. The competition, which expects to see over 120 national and international participants, is a part of the ‘Karnataka Surfing Festival’. The championship is recognised by the International Surfing Association and Surfing Federation of India and is organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with Karnataka Tourism, Kanara Surfing and Water Sports Promotion Council in partnership with the country’s oldest surf club, the Mantra Surf Club.
Upcoming surfer, Tanvi Jagdish who recently achieved a major international glory by coming 3 in SUP event at the West Marine Carolina Cup in the USA was felicitated by Minister Ramanath Rai along with MLA J R Lobo, Chief Whip Ivan D’Souza, DC Dr Jagadeesha, Mayor Kavitha Sanil and Surfing Swami (Jack Hebner), Pioneer of Surfing in lndia.
Addressing the gathering Minister Ramanath Rai said, “It is always fascinating to see how quickly the sport has started gaining popularity. We are pleased with the efforts put in by everyone behind the scene. The sport and the festival have given a different path especially to the locals. It is they who make these things possible and help us with providing a better platform for all the participants. We are really looking forward to take on the waves and spread a positive message to people around the globe”.
Speaking on the occasion DC Dr Jagadeesha said, last year we had organised the Indian surfing league and this year we thought of organising the World surfing league but due to the delay in getting permission from the government we had to organise the Indian Surfing Leagues. The tourism minister has assured to support us to organise the World Surfing league next year. Surfing is a sport through which we need to take our district on the world map. Since surfing is a very important sport we have to promote it.”
Addressing the gathering Cheif Whip Ivan D’Souza said, “This is the happiest moment for all of us because for the second time we are organising the Indian surfing league. If we would have prepared well in advance we would have organised the World surfing league but next year for sure we can organise the World surfing league. This is an opportunity for us to highlight Dakshina Kannada in the world map. The Tourism minister is very much interested in developing tourism in the coastal belt, the central government has also allocated funds for the development of tourism in the coastal area. Surfing is the best sport to promote tourism. We are happy that more than 1000 students have joined the surfing club to learn surfing. I also thank Surfing Swami Jack Hebnar for training our students.”
MLA Lobo said, “In Mangaluru we are organising the National-level Surfing league for the second time. Mangaluru is very popular in the international-level for kite flying and now for surfing. It is good that we did not organise the world surfing league this year because this event will help us to organise the International-level surfing next year. Whenever we organise any international-level events we should be well prepared. So let us prepare for the World Surfing League next year and let it be a memorable event so that we can feel proud of it. Whichever sport connected to water is natural for us because our children have reached the international level in swimming. Why don’t we start the boat race which exists in Kerala? We can also start the boat race here. I congratulate all the people who are directly involved in organising this event.”
President, Surfing Federation of India Kishore Kumar said, “Our objective is to make surfing a massive sport in India considering the fact that India has a long coastline. We want people across the country to work together in taking this sport at the grander stage and giving it the necessary attention.”