CHENNAI: The International Surf Open, World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event, got off to an excellent start with competitors from India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Australia vying for top honours. The tricky conditions at Mahabalipuram Beach offered clean two-foot waves for the first time in the meet.
The second heat of the day saw Sanjay Selvamani make history as he became the first-ever Indian to claim a heat win in a World Surf League event. Hailing from nearby Kovalam, Selvamani had plenty of surfing experience at Mahabalipuram and it showed as he picked off a number of long right-hand runners to take the heat win in only his second QS event appearance.
‘’We have been so excited for this event to come to India so it’s great to finally have it all underway,” said Selvamani. ‘’We know the waves here can get so much better than they are today so we’re hoping it continues to improve throughout the window. I have been surfing for nine years now and having this event here shows all the Indian surfers that there are opportunities to travel to other surf spots in this region to compete and continue to improve. This is such an exciting time for Indian surfers,” he added.
Another standout performer was Sri Lanka’s Lakshitha Madushan (LKA), who posted the highest two-wave total of the day. Maldivian competitors Yousuf Zaki (MDV) and Saijaikumar S (IND) also took convincing heat wins in the Round of 56.