Kadal Kondattam 2025: Tamil Nadu athletes dominate Day 1 of India’s premier ocean sports festival
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Tamil Nadu athletes stole the show on the first day of Kadal Kondattam 2025, India’s top ocean sports festival, by sweeping all medals in kayaking and stand-up paddling events. Held at the stunning Muthu Nagar beach in Tuticorin, this three-day extravaganza kicked off with a bang despite a weather delay.
The event, originally set for September 12, faced rough seas and bad weather, forcing organizers to push back the start. But on September 14, things finally calmed down, and the action exploded. Aqua Outback, led by former national kiteboarding champ Arjun Motha, runs the festival with backing from Tamil Nadu Tourism and the state government. It’s all about celebrating ocean sports while boosting local communities.
Right from the opening ceremony, excitement filled the air. Tamil Nadu government officials and local leaders joined in, with lively cultural performances from nearby groups adding to the vibe. Even though races didn’t happen on the planned first day, athletes kept busy with practice runs, demo events, giant kite shows, and fun workshops on calisthenics and strength training.
In kayaking, Tamil Nadu stars grabbed a whopping 21 medals across categories like Sub-junior Boys, Men Seniors, U-18 Boys, Girls Senior, and Men Open. Anto Amirthan, Niranth, and Michael Rithik took gold, silver, and bronze in Sub-junior Boys. Manikandan M, Karuppasamy M, and Muthu R dominated Men Seniors. Ragul shone in U-18 Boys with gold, followed by Thangasamy’s silver and Anto Amirthan’s bronze—giving him a double medal haul. Local hero Anaina from Aqua Outback won gold in Girls Senior, with Vijaya Lakshmi and Priya Dharshini close behind. Ragul, Thangasamy, and Kanna rounded out the Men Open podium.
Stand-up paddling saw even more repeats. Manikandan M, Karuppasamy M, and Muthu R swept the Amateur Standing Men category, mirroring their kayaking success. In Girls Open, Vijaya Lakshmi grabbed gold, Priya Dharshini silver, and Anaina bronze—another triple double for these rising stars.
Kiteboarding heats also heated up, with Arjun, Dylan, Karuppasamy, and Chitresh qualifying for Saturday’s finals. The festival isn’t just races—it’s a full beach party. Expect a Coastal Food Festival highlighting Tamil Nadu’s tasty seafood dishes, relaxing Sunset Yoga, more workshops, beach clean-ups, and talks on ocean awareness. All this mixes sports, culture, and eco-friendly vibes to create something special.
Tamil Nadu Tourism Officer Sitaraman praised the effort at the ceremony: “Hats off to Arjun Motha and the Aqua Outback team for this massive undertaking—it takes real guts and hard work. This isn’t just for top athletes; it’s a chance for young folks from fishing families to jump in and shine. We’re fully on board and wish everyone the best.”
Kadal Kondattam 2025 aims big for Tuticorin’s coastal scene. It boosts tourism, sparks new jobs, pulls in local fishermen to ocean sports, and spreads the word on saving our seas and living sustainably. With more action ahead, this festival is set to make waves far beyond the beach.
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