Japan sweeps all four titles at Shore Temple Classic

Japan completed a clean sweep across all categories at the World Surf League (WSL) Shore Temple Classic QS 2000 and Pro Junior (JQS) at Mamallapuram beach on Saturday. Ikko Watanabe (17.10) edged compatriot Tenshi Iwami by 0.33 points to win the Open men’s crown, while Mirai Ikeda (14.00) beat Thailand’s Isabel Higgs by 1.60 points in the Open women’s final, Sportstar reports. In the Pro Junior classes, Yuma Nagasawa (14.17) and Hinata Shimizu (14.23) won the men’s and women’s titles respectively.

The Hindu notes that Hinata Shimizu faced twin sister Hinano Shimizu in the Pro Junior women’s final, their first such contest, and came out on top. The Pro Junior men’s final saw Ren Okano push Nagasawa but fall short. Arun Vasu, president of the Asian Surfing Federation and Surfing Federation of India, indicated that two WSL events could be hosted next year, with the Andaman Islands confirmed for one of them.