Men’s world number 2, former champion confirm participation in three-day India Paddle Festival in Mangaluru

With India’s recent breakthrough in securing its first-ever surfing quota for the Asian Games, the festival marks another milestone in the country’s evolving water sports landscape.

World No. 2 Christian Andersen, former world champion Daniel Hasulyo, and four-time world champion and the defending women’s champion Esperanza Barreras confirmed their participation in the three-day India Paddle Festival, the country’s international stand-up paddling event.

Mangaluru is getting ready to host the second edition of the event from March 7-9.

Leading India’s charge will be the formidable Sekar Patchai, reining national champion and 25-time title-holder. The event is organised by the Surfing Swami Foundation and Mantra Surf Club, in collaboration with WrkWrk, at the scenic Sasihithlu beach.

According to the organisers, the women’s category will see the return of defending champion Esperanza Barreras from Spain, a four-time International Surfing Association (ISA) SUP World Champion. She will be joined by South Africa’s rising star Chiara Vorster and Korea’s SUP champion Lim Sujeong, among others, in a bid for supremacy in Indian waters.

The men’s category promises an intense contest, featuring top global athletes Antonio Morillo from Spain, who narrowly missed the title in 2024, and Christian Andersen from Denmark, who is the current World No. 2.

Adding to the competition’s depth, former World Champion Daniel Hasulyo (Hungary) brings his wealth of experience while Will Keetley from the U.K. prepares to make his mark in the waters of Sasihithlu beach.

Local favourite and India’s top-ranked stand-up paddler Sekar Patchai will spearhead the Indian contingent. A 25-time national SUP champion, Mr. Patchai is determined to make a mark in home waters. He will be joined by Manikandan, one of India’s fastest-rising stand-up paddlers, as they take on the international competition.