Asian Games 2026 Surfing Team Selection – Public Summary
SURFING FEDERATION OF INDIA
Recognised National Federation for Surfing
Ref: SFI/PUB/AG/2026/01
Submission Date: 23rd June 2026
Public Summary: India's Surfing Squad for the Asian Games 2026
The Surfing Federation of India (“SFI”) is pleased to announce India's surfing squad and reserves for the 20th Asian Games, Aichi–Nagoya 2026, as forwarded to MYAS and IOA for confirmation and approval, following completion of its selection process under the Selection Policy for the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and its Addendum dated 16 May 2026.
Confirmed Squad and Reserves
Men’s Squad: Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj Babu
Men’s Reserves: Ramesh Budihal, Srikanth D
Women’s Squad: Kamali Moorthy, Sugar Shanthi Banarse
Women’s Reserves: Shrishti Selvam, Devi Ramanathan
Reserve athletes remain in contention to be substituted into the squad in the event of injury, withdrawal, or non-compliance, in accordance with the Replacement Policy under the Selection Policy, subject to IOA and organiser conditions.
Procedural Background
On 3 June 2026, SFI's Selection Committee announced its initial selection for the Asian Games 2026 squad. This decision was challenged by two appeals concerning solely the men's second confirmed position. An independent Appeals Panel set aside directed that a Selection Committee be reconstituted to retabulate the men's second confirmed position. The Panel further directed that, in doing so, the Committee give due weight to performances at the Asian Surfing Championship (“ASC”) 2025 and take into account all international events from 1 January 2025 onward.
A reconstituted Selection Committee convened on 20 and 21 June 2026 to reconsider the matter afresh in light of the Panel's directions. Notwithstanding a full review of the objective record, the vote on the men's second confirmed position remained tied.
Neither the Selection Policy nor the Appeals Panel's directions prescribe any further mechanism for resolving a renewed tie at the Selection Committee level. The IOA's deadline for submission of names was not capable of extension. A further reconstitution of the Selection Committee was considered and found not practicable. An internal surf-off was equally considered and found not viable in the time available.
In view of these circumstances, and solely to ensure compliance with the mandatory submission timeline and to safeguard India's participation quota, The matter being placed before the council , SFI's Executive Council took an executive call to finalise the selection on the complete record before it and submitted the names of the selected athletes to the IOA together with an explanation of the basis of selection. That explanation is summarised below.
Basis of Selection
The Federation has given due and careful weight to Mr. Ramesh Budihal's bronze-medal finish at the Asian Surfing Championship 2025, a genuine and creditable result and the only Asian Championship medal won by an Indian surfer to date. On a review of the complete record since 1 January 2025, however, the Federation is satisfied that the totality of the evidence supports the selection of Mr. Sivaraj Babu, with the following considerations to effectively break the tie between the two athletes after the Selection Committee votes:
National Ranking
National and International Direct Record comparison of results
Podium Finishes and Wins
On the totality of this record, considered as a whole, the Federation is satisfied that the selection of Mr. Sivaraj Babu is justified notwithstanding Mr. Budihal's Asian Championship bronze medal, which has been weighed carefully but is not, on the complete record, determinative of the outcome.
Right of Appeal
Any athlete aggrieved by this decision may raise the matter with the Federation in writing. As the IOA's deadline for submission of names has now passed and the squad has accordingly been submitted, any such representation will be forwarded by the Federation to SAI, the IOA, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for their consideration, rather than being actioned afresh by SFI's internal Selection Committee or Appeals Panel. Queries regarding this summary may be addressed to the Federation at surf@surfingfederationofindia.org.
SFI congratulates and thanks every athlete who competed for a place in this squad for their commitment to the sport.
