Telangana Girl Nayana Sri Talluri Keeps Golden Streak at KIWG Amid Rising Cost of Chasing Dreams

As the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 concluded, Telangana-girl Nayana Sri Talluri once again emerged as one of its brightest young stars. The 17-year-old short track speed skater capped the Games, held in Leh, with another glittering medal haul, reinforcing her reputation for consistency on the ice - even as her family continues to grapple with the mounting financial demands of elite sport and limited state support.

Nayana delivered her strongest performances in the individual short track events, clinching gold medals in both the 500m and 1000m races. While the mixed relay and women's relay ended in disappointment due to disqualifications, she chose to focus on what went right.

"I am very happy with my performance in the individual events. The

relay races were unfortunate, but the individual races went well and I managed to win gold in both 500m and 1000m," she told myKhel in an exclusive interview. "Maintaining this streak for the last three years makes me really happy. "

A Medal Habit Built on Consistency for Telangana Girl

Nayana's record at the Khelo India Winter Games speaks for itself. Over the past few editions, she has steadily added to her medal collection - so much so that even she struggles to keep track. "I've won two golds in 2023, two in 2024, one in 2025 and one this year. It's around six medals now," she said, laughing.

Competing in short track speed skating's most demanding distances, Nayana admits she enjoys the explosive nature of the 500m but feels she performs better over 1000m. "I like the 500m, but I think I do better in the 1000m. It's always a debate," she said.

That mindset has helped her stay ahead of the curve even as competition intensifies. "This year was definitely tougher. There are many upcoming skaters who are training very well, but I managed to stay consistent," she added.

From Summer Camp to National Podiums

Nayana's journey into skating was never planned. With both parents working, she was enrolled in summer activities simply to stay occupied. Roller skating came first, followed by ice skating - and soon, there was no turning back.

"I don't know exactly why I liked it, but I think it was the smoothness of the sport and the cold. After two or three years, I had already reached a certain level, so I just continued," she recalled.

She is the first athlete in her family to take up competitive sport, breaking away from the more traditional athletic paths common in southern India. What followed was a steady rise through domestic competitions and onto the international stage.

Nayana has represented India at Southeast Asian Open and Asian Open Trophies, winning medals in every competition she has entered. Her most recent international outing at the Asian Open Trophy in Dehradun saw her claim two silver and two bronze medals.

Family Support, Financial Strain

Behind Nayana's calm confidence is a family that has made immense sacrifices. Her father travels with her to competitions, helping her prepare mentally and physically, while her mother remains her strongest emotional pillar back home.

"My parents support me in every way possible. My dad travels with me everywhere and helps me prepare for races. My mom is always encouraging," she said.

Despite her achievements, financial challenges remain a constant concern. Training, equipment, travel, and international exposure come at a heavy cost, and there has been very little support from the state government, leaving the family to shoulder most of the burden themselves.

Her father, Narayana Rao Talluri, tells myKhel, "We have been spending money from our own pockets, but it isn't easy. " He adds further, "Training in countries like Korea and Indonesia is very expensive. It easily costs between ₹12-14 lakh to train for nearly three months there. "

With limited government backing and a business hit hard in the post-COVID period, the family had to make strategic choices to keep Nayana's career moving forward.

"That's why we enrolled her at the University of Calgary, where she can study and practice at the same time," he explained. "However, even a little support from the government side will give us a big boost. Ultimately, she is winning medals for the country. "

The reality is stark: medals continue to arrive, but financial security does not.

Canada Chapter and a Historic Dream

In December 2025, Nayana took a significant step in her career by moving to Canada, where she is studying Psychology at the University of Calgary while training in a high-performance short track environment.

"I've just started training there and I want to improve in many aspects of short track," she said. Her ambitions are firmly set on 2026, when she hopes to qualify for the Junior World Cup later in the year.

"I want to create history by participating in the Junior World Cup. I would be the first Indian female to do so," she said, her voice steady with determination.

Khelo India Winter Games: Platform That Matters

For athletes like Nayana, the Khelo India Winter Games remain a crucial launchpad. "It gives us a platform to showcase how hard we train every year. It gives recognition and exposure, which is very important for sports like ours," she said.

As the curtain falls on another edition of the Games, Nayana Sri Talluri's story stands out - not just for the gold medals she keeps winning, but for the resilience it takes to keep chasing dreams on ice, even as the costs rise and support remains scarce.