Chennai, February 16, 2025: The SDAT Asia Triathlon Cup held at INS Adyar marked a significant milestone for triathlon in India, as the city hosted a high-calibre international field in a professionally executed event. Organised by the Tamil Nadu Triathlon Association under the aegis of the Indian Triathlon Federation, the competition received strong backing from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
The prestigious event brought together elite triathletes from over a dozen countries, including Australia, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, and Uzbekistan, alongside India’s top athletes. The race followed the Olympic sprint format, comprising a 750m sea swim, 20km cycling, and 5km run, with the course stretching from the INS Adyar beachfront through key Chennai routes such as Kamarajar Salai, Anna Salai, and Walajah Salai.
The event also drew international attention, with World Triathlon’s Director of Sports Results, Enrique Quesada, in attendance to evaluate Chennai’s potential to host a World Cup-level event in the future.
To ensure world-class standards, Lee Young Bok (Korea) served as the Technical Delegate, while the Coast Guard provided vital safety support during the sea swim segment. In a parallel effort to strengthen India’s technical ecosystem, a World Triathlon Level 1 Technical Official course was conducted on February 12–13, led by Melody Tan (Malaysia), certifying Indian officials for international events.
Competitive Performances Across Elite Categories
In the Men’s Individual Triathlon, Indian athletes gained valuable exposure against a strong international field.
• Sarungbam Athouba Meitei emerged as the top Indian finisher, securing 15th place with a time of 00:57:19.
• Adarsh Muralidharan Nair Sinimol finished 23rd (01:00:43), while Akash P (Tamil Nadu) placed 24th (01:01:15).
The podium was dominated by international competitors:
Gold: Francesco Di Basilico (Italy) – 00:55:45
Silver: Takuto Oshima (Japan) – 00:55:54
Bronze: Luke McCarron (Ireland) – 00:56:04
Bronze: Ryoya Tamazaki (Japan) – 00:56:04
In the Women’s Individual Triathlon, Indian athletes delivered commendable performances:
• Dolly Devidas Patil led the Indian contingent with a 10th-place finish (01:08:42).
• Mansi Mohite followed in 12th place (01:10:00), while Aarthi S secured 13th place (01:15:09).
International athletes once again dominated the podium:
Gold: Martina Ayu Pratiwi (Indonesia) – 01:04:25
Silver: Minori Ikeno (Japan) – 01:04:50
Bronze: Anna Zehnder (Switzerland) – 01:04:53
The event concluded with a prize distribution ceremony attended by Thiru. Atulya Misra, IAS, Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare & Sports Development Department, and Thiru. J. Meghanatha Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary, SDAT, who felicitated the medal winners.