Mangalore, Feb 21 (PTI) Japanese world champion Shuri Araki, the youngest to win the title, will be the cynosure of all eyes in the India Paddle Festival, the country's first-ever international stand-up paddling event, which will take place at the Sasihithlu Beach here from March 8 to 10.

Araki was 16 when he won the world title.

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With this event the Association of PaddleSurf Professionals World Tour (APP) will mark its entry into the country.

The event will be conducted prior to the launch of the 2024 APP World Tour.

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Some top athletes from the APP World Tour, as well as other aspiring professionals from the region, will participate in the event, presented by Karnataka Tourism and organised by Surfing Swami Foundation.

India No.1 Sekar Patchai and the 17-year-old Japanese Araki will be seen in action among others.

"We are extremely pleased to make our first entry into India with the Surfing Swami Foundation and Karnataka Tourism. We hope that the India Paddle Festival will help the sport get the much-needed push to expand in the region," CEO of the APP World Tour, Tristan Boxford said in a statement.

"This championship will also provide an opportunity for the athletes to experience an international competition."

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)