Little Andaman Pro 2026 Heats Up With SUP Wins, High Scores

Day two of the Little Andaman Pro 2026 intensified India’s new flagship surf and stand-up paddling championship, as Butler Bay produced fast, clean walls for high-scoring heats and decisive SUP title runs.

SUP Technical Finals Crown New National Champions

The stand-up paddling spotlight fell on the Technical race finals, where precision around buoys and strong surf navigation decided the first national titles of the week. In the men’s race, reports indicate that Sekar Pachai converted his pre-event billing into a commanding victory, clocking a winning time of just over ten minutes on the demanding course.

Publicly available results show that Pachai crossed the line ahead of Rajesh D and Dinesh Selvamani, who completed the podium after a tightly bunched battle through the final leg. The outcome underlined Pachai’s growing reputation in Indian SUP racing and confirmed the depth of competition emerging from coastal communities on the mainland.

In the women’s Technical final, data from event coverage shows Arthi setting the benchmark with a time under fourteen minutes, pulling clear of rivals on the critical inside turns. She finished ahead of Vijayalakshmi Irulappan and Nishi, whose consistent pacing secured second and third place and added further weight to a rapidly strengthening women’s SUP field.

The Technical race format, which combines surf-zone entries, quick transitions and flatwater efficiency, highlighted how far Indian paddlers have progressed within a short competitive window. Organisers positioned SUP as a core pillar of the Little Andaman Pro 2026, and the finals on day two validated that choice with close racing and a clear pathway for future national contenders.

Men’s Open Surfing Delivers High Heat Totals

While SUP champions were being decided, the Men’s Open surfing draw escalated in intensity through rounds two and three. At Butler Bay’s Secondary Bank, a peeling left-and-right setup offered competitors long sections to link turns and push for excellent-range scores.

Round two featured steady performances, with event updates identifying Yogesh A as one of the standout surfers. He posted a heat total above ten points, built on sharp, controlled turns that set a competitive bar for those following. His ride selection showcased growing familiarity with Little Andaman’s powerful reef energy, a contrast to the softer beach breaks that underpin much of India’s surf calendar.

The tone shifted in round three, where publicly reported scoring saw numbers climb into the mid- and high-teens. Coverage points to Ramesh Budihal producing the day’s defining performance, amassing a 16.00 heat total to lead all competitors. His surfing displayed a mix of speed, vertical approach and confident finishes in the critical section, signalling an athlete comfortable under pressure.

Close behind, surfers such as Sanjay Selvamani and Srikanth D advanced with totals above eleven points, consolidating their positions in the later rounds. The rise in scoring across the draw underlined how quickly competitors adjusted to the reef’s tempo, turning Little Andaman into a proving ground for more progressive rail and power surfing from India’s best.

Women’s Open Field Highlights Emerging Stars

The Women’s Open quarterfinals contributed some of the most compelling storylines of day two, as a new generation of surfers capitalised on clean afternoon conditions. Event reports note that Kamali Moorthy, already regarded as a key figure in the women’s field, topped her heat with a double-digit total built on composed, flowing rides.

Her performance set up a strong run toward finals day and reflected extensive experience on varied Indian coastlines. Behind her, surfers including Shrishti Selvam maintained steady form to secure progression, demonstrating that depth in the women’s division is steadily increasing beyond a small core of established names.

The most dominant single display in the quarterfinals, according to published heat summaries, came from Sugar Shanti Banarse. She posted a total in the high twelves, combining precise takeoffs with powerful finishing manoeuvres that maximised the steep end sections of the reef. That total stood out as one of the highest of the entire women’s draw to that point.

The overall standard in the Women’s Open reinforced broader trends highlighted by the Surfing Federation of India, which has positioned gender inclusion as a central part of its competitive roadmap. With Little Andaman offering more powerful waves than many mainland venues, the event is giving female surfers valuable time in conditions closer to those found at major international contests.

Little Andaman’s Growing Role in Indian Surf Tourism

Beyond individual results, the Little Andaman Pro 2026 is emerging as a showcase for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a surf and adventure tourism destination. Information from tourism and federation announcements describes the championship as a joint effort between the Surfing Federation of India and Andaman & Nicobar Islands Tourism, designed to align elite sport with sustainable coastal development.

Butler Bay, where the competition is staged, offers long, powerful waves and a dramatic backdrop of forested headlands, conditions that are relatively rare on India’s more heavily populated shores. Recent coverage by national outlets notes that close to one hundred athletes have travelled to Little Andaman for the event, indicating growing confidence in the island’s logistical capacity to host large-scale water-sport competitions.

The timing of the championship also carries strategic significance. The 2026 season is being framed as a pivotal year for Indian surfing, with the national team preparing for its Asian Games debut after securing quota places through the Asian Surfing Championships. By opening the domestic calendar in Little Andaman, organisers are giving top surfers and SUP paddlers a chance to refine their performances in conditions that better mirror international benchmarks.

For local communities, the influx of athletes, support staff and visitors is expected to generate new interest in surf-related livelihoods, from guiding and coaching to hospitality. Public-facing information from regional tourism campaigns emphasises a focus on low-impact, ocean-oriented experiences, positioning events like the Little Andaman Pro as catalysts for a more diversified visitor economy.

Momentum Builds Ahead of Finals Day

With SUP Technical titles decided and the main surfing draws narrowed, attention now shifts to the closing day of the Little Andaman Pro 2026. The schedule, as outlined in event communications, includes Men’s Open quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, along with Women’s Open semifinals and finals, setting up a full slate of decisive heats.

The remaining SUP programme is also expected to deliver high drama, with sprint races over shorter, explosive distances adding a contrasting spectacle to the longer Technical format completed on day two. Athletes who featured on the Technical podium, including paddlers such as Dinesh Selvamani, are anticipated to contend again as conditions allow.

Across both surfing and SUP, day two’s results have established clear favourites while leaving room for late surges from dark horses who have grown more comfortable with Butler Bay’s nuances. With forecasts pointing to continued contestable surf, the stage appears set for a finale that could further elevate Little Andaman’s profile within India’s fast-evolving wave sport landscape.

As the championship edges toward its conclusion, the combination of high-level performances, striking natural setting and coordinated tourism messaging is drawing attention well beyond the competitive lineup. For many observers of Indian surfing, day two at the Little Andaman Pro 2026 marked the moment when a new frontier in the country’s surf story truly came into focus.