Indian skater Anandkumar Velkumar rewrote history books yet again on Sunday as he clinched the top prize in the 42km Marathon speed skating event at the World Championships.
Velkumar, who had earlier won the yellow metal in the 1000m and bronze in the 500m event at the showpiece, reached yet another milestone hitherto unscaled by an Indian.
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Velkumar made history this week by becoming India’s first world champion in speed skating, winning gold in the 1000m event at the World Championships in Beidaihe, China. His remarkable achievement drew significant attention.
The 22-year-old champion began his skating journey on a simple cement badminton court near
his home, never imagining that his early efforts on wheels would lead him to the pinnacle of speed skating. He worked his way up from those humble beginnings on concrete.
Velkumar’s breakthrough on the big stage came in 2021 when he won silver at the Junior World Championships, making him the first Indian to secure a medal at that level. Earlier this year, he reached another historic milestone by earning bronze at the World Games, once again becoming the first Indian skater to medal at the prestigious event.
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At the ongoing World Championships in China, his journey to gold started with a bronze in the 500m sprint, paving the way for his historic 1000m triumph just days later. Despite achieving the sport’s highest honour, Velkumar’s determination remains undiminished.
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