PENALTIES, PRECISION, AND A MISSED RECORD – DRAMA AT CSWC INDIA 2025

For the first time in three years, the Indian slow smoking record remained untouched — but at the CSWC India Qualifier 2025 in New Delhi, it came tantalizingly close to falling.

Hosted by the India Cigar Club, part of the Luxury Ampers and Frolics Group, the event transformed the elegant Thanks & Beyond venue into a sanctuary of ritual, heritage, and precision. “The ambience was one of meditative focus,” said Shruthi Gupta, partnership manager at Luxury Ampers and Frolics Group. “Beautifully crafted cocktails, scrumptious food, and a pre-party with sake, whiskeys, tequila, wine, and snacks set the tone.”

Once the competition began, the serene atmosphere turned into one of the most penalty-heavy battles in recent CSWC history. Within just 30 minutes, several contestants were penalized, and all three podium finishers were hit with at least 18 minutes of deductions.

Vikramaditya Ranawala ultimately claimed the national title with an official time of 1:46:00, securing his ticket to the CSWC Grand Final in Split, Croatia. “An exercise in stoic control, Vikramaditya’s unshakable pace earned him the crown,” Gupta explained.

Yet his 20-minute penalty robbed him of what could have been a historic first — breaking the elusive two-hour barrier for India. The national record of 1:59:03, set last year by Aakansha Vashist, still stands.

Ramit Narang was on track to win with a flawless performance of 1:48:00, but a mid-round penalty cost him dearly, pushing his official time down to 1:30:00 and into second place. “Consistent and methodical, Ramit held his lead until the final third of the cigar before conceding time,” Gupta said.

Third place went to Sachin Vaish with 1:27:00, another strong contender whose own technical infraction shaved valuable minutes off his run.

Despite the penalties, the level of competition was world-class. “His [Ranawala’s] time places him among serious international contenders,”

Gupta concluded. “And the CSWC India Qualifier 2025 proved not only the growing passion for cigars and the immense hard work to build the cigar community in India, but also the rise of a disciplined, global-standard community that appreciates the art of taking it slow.”