India gets its first skating world champion, Anandkumar Velkumar wins gold
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India 's Anand Kumar Velkumar has created history in the 'Speed Skating World Championship 2025'. Anand Kumar won gold in the 1,000 meter sprint. This is India's first gold in this event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Anand Kumar on this achievement.
India got its first skating world champion, Anandkumar Velkumar won gold; PM Modi congratulated : PM Modi wrote on the social media platform 'X', "Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar who won the Gold Medal in the Senior Men's 1,000m Sprint at the Speed Skating World Championship 2025. His patience, speed and passion have made him India's first world champion in skating. His achievement will inspire countless youngsters. Congratulations to Anand Kumar and best wishes for all his future endeavours."
22-year-old Anand Kumar Velkumar has won the first place in the senior men's 1000 meter sprint race at the 'Speed Skating World Championship 2025' being held in Beidaihe, China, by clocking 1:24.924 minutes. Earlier, Anand Kumar Velkumar had won the bronze medal in the 500 meter sprint and gave India its first senior world championship medal. Anand Kumar had taken 43.072 seconds for this.
In the junior category, skater Krish Sharma has also won gold in the 1,000 meter sprint. In this way, India has won gold in both junior and senior events in the 1,000 meter sprint of the Speed Skating World Championship. Anand Kumar Velkumar, a resident of Tamil Nadu, is good in studies as well as sports. He has studied engineering in computer science. Anand Kumar Velkumar winning gold in the 'Speed Skating World Championship 2025' is a historic moment for Indian sports.
This achievement will not only bring recognition to a less popular sport like speed skating in India, but will also inspire the new generation to move forward in this sport. His victory will not only inspire the youth, but will also tell them that if the dedication is true, then every goal can be achieved.