Surfing Star Kamali Moorthy Signs Off Indian Open With Stunning Title Double

Nikita Gupta - Kolkata Bureau May 31, 2026 1,300 Views

Tamil Nadu’s teenage prodigy Kamali Moorthy produced a dazzling double on the final day of the Indian Open of Surfing, winning two titles and sealing India’s women’s surfing quota for the 2026 Asian Games. Her commanding performances lit up Sasihithlu beach and underlined just how fast Indian surfing, and especially its young women, are rising on the Asian stage. The meet, part of the National Surfing Championship calendar, saw top names from across the country battle heavy competition and tricky conditions on the closing day.

Kamali’s Golden Double

On the final day, Kamali first dominated the juniors bracket, emerging as the standout in the Surfing Juniors 18 and under female field with a semifinal score of 12.44 before going on to win the title in the final. She then carried that momentum straight into the women’s open division, where she again out-surfed older and more experienced rivals to complete a memorable double. Officials and coaches on site described her composure on set waves and clean rail work as the difference in heats that were otherwise tightly contested.

Asian Games Quota Secured

Crucially, Kamali’s performance at the Indian Open of Surfing also secured India’s women’s surfing quota place for the 2026 Asian Games. With surfing still a relatively new discipline in multi-sport events, that quota carries significance beyond a single medal chance, signalling that India will have a genuine contender on the start list in Japan. For the Surfing Federation of India, it validates years of investment in junior pipelines and high-performance camps along the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka coasts.

Tamil Nadu’s Ongoing Surf Wave

Kamali’s double is part of a broader Tamil Nadu surge across national events. At previous editions of the Indian Open and at the inaugural Little Andaman Pro earlier this year, Tamil Nadu surfers have swept titles in men’s open, women’s open and groms categories, with names like Ajeesh Ali, Sivaraj Babu and Kamali repeatedly on top of the podium. The cluster of performances suggests a maturing ecosystem around local clubs, coaches and consistent exposure to quality beach breaks that younger surfers are clearly benefitting from.

Why This Final Day Matters For Indian Surfing

Beyond the medals, Sunday’s finale at Sasihithlu offered a snapshot of a sport shifting gears in India. Packed junior draws, national ranking implications and now an Asian Games quota attached to these events turn them from niche showcases into real pathways for young athletes. For Kamali Moorthy, the double win cements her status as the face of this new wave; for Indian surfing, it is an early glimpse of what a serious, sustained run on the Asian circuit could look like.

Key Highlights

Teenage surfer Kamali Moorthy claims a sensational double on final day of Indian Open of Surfing
Wins titles in Surfing Juniors 18 and under female and women’s open categories
Results help secure India’s women’s surfing quota place for the 2026 Asian Games
Tamil Nadu surfers continue to dominate national events across multiple divisions
Performance seen as a landmark moment in the rise of women’s surfing in India