India Paddle Festival: Reigning national champion Sekar Patchai to spearhead India’s challenge

Men’s and Women’s World No. 2, Spanish Stand-Up Paddlers Fernando Perez and Esperanza Barreras will be the highlight among the strong line-up that will vie for the top honours in the upcoming India Paddle Festival, India’s first-ever international Stand-Up Paddling Event.

India’s challenge will be spearheaded by the formidable Sekar Patchai, the reigning national champion, along with Manikandan D and Akash J Shetty.

The India Paddle Festival is scheduled to take place at the Sasihithlu Beach, Mangalore, Karnataka, from March 8 to 10 and will be conducted before the launch of the 2024 APP World Tour.

Ranked 1 in India and 18th in the SUP World Rank (ISA) in 2018, Patchai will be responsible for leading the Indian Contingent as he competes in the Men’s Open Category. He is also a 25-time National Stand-Up Paddling champion. Manikandan D, the top 2 SUP athlete in the country, will also be a focus in the Men’s Open category.

The Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) announced its entry in India with the country’s first-ever International Stand-Up Paddling championship last month.