India’s leading figure skater Tara Prasad delivered another assured performance on the European circuit, clinching the bronze medal in the Senior Women’s category at Skate Celje 2025 in Slovenia.
Competing against a strong field of European and Asian athletes, Tara finished third with a total score of 136.68 points, reinforcing her position as one of India’s most consistent and competitive international winter-sport athletes.
The event was won by Julija Lovrencic (Slovenia), who topped the standings with 148.16 points, followed closely by Michaela Vrastakova (Czech Republic), who earned 147.45 points to secure silver. Both skaters delivered high-quality, technically solid programs, but Tara’s composed free skate ensured she stayed firmly in contention for the podium.
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The Senior Women’s category at Skate Celje traditionally attracts a competitive field from across Europe, and the 2025 edition was no different. Beyond the top three, the lineup featured athletes from Hungary, Serbia, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, and Georgia.
Final standings included:
- 1. Julija Lovrencic (SLO) – 148.16
- 2. Michaela Vrastakova (CZE) – 147.45
- 3. Tara Prasad (IND) – 136.68
- 4. Katinka Anna Zsembery (HUN) – 133.90
- 5. Ana Scepanovic (SRB) – 112.90
- 6. Ophelie Clerc (SUI) – 97.78
- 7. Pin-Jane Chen (TPE) – 85.85
In a field dominated by athletes from strong winter-sport nations, Tara once again demonstrated that she is capable of not only competing but medalling consistently at international events. The scoring breakdown across the table also highlights the competitive dynamics influencing the final podium positions. Tara ranked fourth in the Short Program (SP) and improved to third in Free Skate (FS), a pattern consistent with her recent competitions where she tends to build momentum across segments.
For context:
- Lovrencic placed 1st in SP and 2nd in FS
- Vrastakova placed 3rd in SP but won the FS segment
- Tara placed 4th in SP and 3rd in FS
This consistency in the longer program continues to be one of Tara’s strengths. Her strong component scores and expressive choreography allow her to move up the standings even when the Short Program is not at its sharpest.
Tara’s bronze medal adds to a growing list of international podiums for Indian figure skating, a sport still in its early stages domestically. Her achievements are built on sustained training in high-performance environments abroad and a structured approach to competing regularly in Europe, where technical standards are high and judging benchmarks are rigorous.
India, unlike traditional figure-skating nations, lacks a wide competition base, year-round ice rinks, and a domestic pipeline of technical coaches. Despite these limitations, Tara’s progress over the past four seasons has been measurable and consistent. She has now produced three international senior medals in two years, giving India credible representation in a sport where even basic infrastructure remains scarce.
Her recent results also play an important role from a system-level perspective. Each medal boosts India’s visibility within the International Skating Union (ISU) circuit and strengthens the case for greater investment in winter sports infrastructure, coaching, and development programs back home.
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With the 2025–26 season serving as the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, results such as the bronze at Skate Celje act as strong confidence markers. Tara has shown the ability to stay competitive within the 130–145 point bracket an essential range for athletes from non-traditional nations seeking Olympic qualification.
To aim higher, the key competitive priority remains stabilizing the Short Program. Even a modest improvement of 4–6 points in the SP could put her closer to the 145–150 range required to challenge consistently for golds at events of this level.
Symbolism Beyond the Scoreboard
Beyond the numerical performance, Tara’s presence on an international podium carries symbolic weight. She represents a new generation of Indian athletes who are breaking into sports without historic national pathways, fighting both performance challenges and system challenges along the way. Her ability to compete in Slovenia, Austria, Iceland, and across Europe with grace, composure, and a relentless work ethic makes her a vital figure for India’s winter-sport ambitions.
Tara Prasad’s bronze at Skate Celje 2025 is yet another step forward for Indian figure skating. In a demanding field and in a sport defined by technical detail and artistic expression, she continues to establish India as a nation capable of producing credible, consistent international performers.
Her latest podium finish is both encouraging and strategically significant and a reminder that India’s winter-sport narrative is beginning to take shape.
