Indian sport has witnessed many historic firsts, but few can match the magnitude of what unfolded at the World Speed Skating Championships.
For the very first time, the Indian tricolour was raised at the pinnacle of the sport as Anandkumar Velkumar and Krish Sharma stormed to world titles in their respective categories, creating an indelible mark in global roller sports. The achievements were nothing short of sensational. Velkumar, a 22-year-old computer science student from Guindy, Chennai, claimed gold in the senior men’s 1000m sprint, clocking a brilliant 1:24.924s in Beidaihe. Just 24 hours earlier, he had already broken barriers by securing India’s first-ever senior Worlds medal with a bronze in the 500m sprint. Joining him in rewriting history was Krish Sharma, who captured the junior men’s 1000m sprint gold, making him India’s first junior world champion in the sport.
Together, their twin triumphs have transformed Indian speed skating’s status on the global stage almost overnight.
A Long Journey from Chennai Courts to Global Podium
For Velkumar, the road to glory has been anything but straightforward. Born and raised in Chennai, he started skating on the unlikeliest of platforms a badminton court. Over 15 years, through persistence, sacrifice, and sheer self-belief, he transitioned from local competitions to Asian and now world championships. His dedication has already borne fruit on multiple stages. He won a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the men’s 3000m relay, underlining India’s growing footprint in roller sports. Earlier this year, at the World Games 2025, Velkumar secured another bronze in the 1000m sprint, becoming the first Indian to achieve such a feat at that event.
But in Beidaihe, he elevated himself into an altogether new stratosphere India’s first senior world champion in speed skating.
Krish Sharma: The Rising Star
If Velkumar’s story was about persistence, Krish Sharma’s triumph in the junior category symbolises a bright future. At just 18, Sharma has announced himself as a force to watch, winning the 1000m sprint gold in dominant fashion. In doing so, he became not just India’s first junior world champion but also the first Indian, at any level, to win a world title in speed skating. His win underscores the depth of talent bubbling under the surface in India’s skating ecosystem. With structured support and international exposure, Sharma could very well be the future face of the sport for India on the Olympic stage.
The victories of Velkumar and Sharma go far beyond two medals. They are watershed moments for Indian skating, placing the country alongside traditional powerhouses such as South Korea, the Netherlands, and Colombia. While inline skating has now given India its world champions, the ultimate goal lies ahead transitioning this success onto the ice. At the Winter Olympics, it is ice speed skating that awards medals, and nations like Korea and the Netherlands dominate that arena.
Experts believe that if India can invest in infrastructure and support athletes like Velkumar and Sharma in making that transition, the dream of an Olympic medal in skating could become realistic within a decade.
“Inline has given us a base,” said a User on X. “But to dream of Winter Olympic glory, we need rinks, exposure, and sustained investment. These results should spark that conversation at the highest level.”
A Historic Double
India’s medal tally from the Beidaihe championships reads:
- Anandkumar Velkumar: 🥇 Gold (1000m Sprint, Senior Men), 🥉 Bronze (500m Sprint)
- Krish Sharma: 🥇 Gold (1000m Sprint, Junior Men)
In less than 48 hours, Indian athletes went from having no senior Worlds medals in their history to boasting two golds and a bronze. This “historic double” will surely be remembered as the turning point for roller sports in India.
The triumphs also highlight a pressing reality: skating remains a niche sport in India, often overlooked in conversations dominated by cricket and Olympic stalwarts. Facilities are sparse, funding is inconsistent, and athletes often train in makeshift venues. Yet, the rise of Velkumar and Sharma has shown what is possible when raw talent meets relentless determination.
For India to capitalise on this breakthrough, systemic support is crucial. This includes:
- Building world-class skating rinks across major cities.
- Providing international exposure and regular competition opportunities.
- Encouraging corporate and institutional sponsorship.
- Integrating skating into the wider sports development programmes.
If these steps are taken, the next generation of skaters could follow Velkumar and Sharma’s footsteps not just in roller sports but in ice skating at the Winter Olympics.
The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. For decades, Indian athletes in niche disciplines have fought for recognition and respect. By standing atop the podium at the World Championships, Anandkumar Velkumar and Krish Sharma have not just created history; they have given a generation of aspiring skaters the belief that India belongs on the world stage. As the tricolour flew high in Beidaihe, it symbolised much more than two victories. It signalled the arrival of Indian skating as a force, a promise of more to come, and perhaps, the beginning of an Olympic dream.
From a badminton court in Chennai to a world championship gold, from a teenager’s dream to a junior world title the stories of Anandkumar Velkumar and Krish Sharma are testaments to the power of perseverance and passion.
Their victories should be front-page headlines in Indian sport, for they have achieved what no one thought possible. And in doing so, they have written a new golden chapter for the nation.
