Photo: WSL/Hain

India will host a QS 2000 and its first JQS event between August 12 and 16 in the waves of Mahabalipuram, the WSL announced yesterday in a press release.

The Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior will host the best surfers from the Asian region who are looking for a place in the challenger series and the junior world championship and the junior regional titles.

This is the second time a QS has been held in India; the first time was in 2023 with only one QS.

Ty Sorati, WSL Asia Pacific Tour Director, said: “The WSL is thrilled to be returning to India after a successful debut in 2023 and to be bringing the country’s first Pro Junior event alongside the QS in 2026. The response to our first event demonstrated the passion and potential of surfing in India, and we look forward to building on that momentum this year. Mahabalipuram offers an excellent high-performance wave, and with the QS and Pro Junior competitions scheduled, it’s a fantastic opportunity for local surfers to compete alongside some of the best in the region. We thank our local partners for their continued commitment to the development of the sport in India.”

“In 2023, India made history by hosting its first World Surf League (WSL) event, a QS 3000, a milestone for surfing in our country. This year, we are proud to build on that achievement with the QS 2000 and the Pro Junior,” said Arun Vasu, President of Surfing India. “Hosting these events at home is a huge advantage for our athletes, who gain valuable ranking points and the competitive experience needed to excel across Asia. But our ambition goes even further. We aim to expand this to four additional WSL events in India, creating a clear pathway for our surfers to aspire to compete on the Challenger Series and the Championship Tour.”

"We hope to see many more Indian surfers on the circuit in the coming years. This is just the beginning of India's journey on the world stage," the official concluded.