Luna Hardman battles Namika Yamashita for bodyboarding world title in Brazil

The professional women’s bodyboarding world championship is reaching its conclusion at Praia do Solemar in Jacaraípe, Brazil. The competition has narrowed down to a two-way battle between Brazilian Luna Hardman and Japan’s Namika Yamashita.

In recent Round 4 heats, Hardman secured a direct pass to the next stage with a score of 10.40, avoiding the repechage. Yamashita also advanced, winning her heat with a total of 16.50. The mathematical situation for the title is distinct: Yamashita only needs to reach the quarterfinals to secure the championship, whereas Hardman must win the event and hope Yamashita finishes outside the top spots.

Other notable performances at the event include Clara Pontes, who earned the first 10 of her career, and Neymara Carvalho, who successfully avoided the repechage. The tournament features 79 athletes from eight countries and offers a record prize pool of US$45,000 for the women’s circuit.