Antonio, Esperanza crowned overall champions at India Paddle Festival

Mangaluru: The International SUP Championship of the India Paddle Festival 2025, the country’s international Stand-Up Paddling event, concluded at Sasihithlu Beach, as Denmark’s Christian Andersen and Spain’s Esperanza Barreras clinched victory in the APP Pro Sprint finals.

The final day was packed with high-intensity races, culminating in the crowning of Antonio Morillo (Men’s) and Esperanza Barreras (Women’s) as the Overall Champions of the event. Among juniors, local talent Aakash Pujar emerged as the U-18 Overall Champion, while Sekar Patchai delivered a stellar performance, finishing fourth in the overall rankings.

The award ceremony was graced by Bollywood actor, sports enthusiast Suniel Shetty, who presented trophies to the champions. Speaking at the event, he emphasised the importance of supporting ocean sports in India.

In the APP Pro Sprints Men’s Final, Christian Andersen won first place , defeating Spain’s Antonio Morillo, who finished second, and Hungary’s Daniel Hasulyo, who claimed third. Earlier in the day, the consolation finals saw an all-Indian podium, with Sekar Patchai taking top honors, followed by Manikandan M and Selvarasan Nagamuthu in second and third place, respectively.

The APP Pro Sprints Women’s Final witnessed Esperanza Barreras reaffirming her dominance in the sport, crossing the finish line ahead of Korea’s Sujeong Lim and South Africa’s Chiara Vorster, who finished second and third, respectively. The Spanish champion’s triumphant run throughout the festival solidified her position as one of the sport’s most formidable competitors.

 The APP Sprints Groms (U-15) Final saw Praveen Pujar claim the top spot, with Aneesh Kumar securing second place and Muhammadh Irfan finishing third. In the U-18 boys category, Thailand’s Martin J Patumsuwon outpaced the competition to take gold, while India’s Aakash Pujar and Raju Pujar impressed once again, finishing second and third, respectively.

In a testament to the growing popularity of Stand-Up Paddling (SUP) in India, the festival also hosted a 4-km Community Race, where recreational paddlers competed in a friendly but competitive environment. Samanth emerged victorious, followed closely by Gokul in second and Madhukar in third.

After three days of electrifying races, Spain’s Antonio Morillo emerged as the Overall Men’s Champion, amassing 18,000 points, ahead of Denmark’s Christian Andersen (16,500 points) and Hungary’s Daniel Hasulyo (14,500 points). India’s Sekar Patchai delivered a stellar performance, finishing fourth in the overall rankings with 10,750 points, marking a significant milestone for Indian SUP athletes.

In the women’s category, Esperanza Barreras dominated the championship, winning both the APP Distance Race and Sprint Race, securing a perfect 20,000 points. Chiara Vorster (South Africa) and Sujeong Lim (Korea) tied for second place with 14,500 points each.