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Leh (Ladakh): Standing by the frozen expanse of Guphuk's Pond, where the ice skating competitions of the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 are underway, veteran India ice-skater Vishwaraj Jadeja cuts a striking figure, not just because of his presence, but because of what he represents for Indian winter sports.
Widely regarded as India's fastest long-distance ice skater, Vishwaraj is a trailblazer who has helped place the country on the global ice skating map. A third-generation athlete from a royal family in Gujarat, his sporting lineage runs deep, his grandfather played field hockey alongside the legendary Major Dhyan Chand, while his parents and aunt were accomplished athletes.
From roller skating in India to elite ice-speed training in the Netherlands,
Vishwaraj's journey spans continents, disciplines and decades. With 65 national records, over 300 races at national and international level, and an unofficial world record over 5 km at 4,500 metres altitude at Lake Tso Moriri, his career has been defined by ambition and persistence.
In this exclusive interaction with myKhel, Vishwaraj (40) speaks about his journey, the cost of chasing winter sports, the growing role of Khelo India, and why India must think in (Winter) Olympic cycles, not quick fixes. Here are the excerpts:
Q: Vishwaraj, take us back to the beginning. How did your journey in sport start?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: I was a roller skater to begin with, and I come from a third-generation sporting family. I grew up seeing medals-my grandfather, my father, my aunt, everyone was an athlete. So it was obvious that I would get into sports at some point. I won a gold medal in roller skating, but later I realised roller skating is not an Olympic sport. If I wanted to do something for my country at the highest level, I had to move to ice skating.
Q: That decision eventually took you to Europe. How big a leap was that?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: I packed my bags and moved to Europe to pursue the Olympic dream. Today, I train in the Netherlands in Olympic training systems. My coach has trained world champions and Olympic champions. I have competed in 313 races so far, set 65 national records, and won around 11-12 international medals across two Asian Games.
Q: You've come extremely close to the Olympics as well. How do you reflect on that phase?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: I missed the Olympics by a quarter of a second. When you do something for a long time, you eventually get somewhere-but everything that could go wrong has also gone wrong for me, not once but multiple times. Still, as an Indian athlete, the motivation to do something for your country keeps you going.
Q: Your sporting lineage traces back to Major Dhyan Chand. How important has that heritage been?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: I come from a royal family in Gujarat. My grandfather studied at Rajkumar College, Rajkot, and played hockey with Major Dhyan Chand ji. My aunt was a 10-time national champion. That legacy gave us belief, it showed us what was possible.
Q: Gujarat and winter sports are rarely spoken in the same breath. How did ice skating attract you?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: When I first saw ice skating, I thought it was similar to roller skating-but it's actually very different. Still, once you decide to do something, Indian athletes have immense motivation. If they get even a little support, they can reach far.
Q: How significant has Khelo India Winter Games been for athletes like you?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: This is the sixth edition now, and Khelo India has already created a huge platform. We all look forward to it every year. The attention is growing, infrastructure is improving, and we are moving in the right direction. It's only going upward.
Q: Switching from roller skating to ice skating is expensive. How tough is that transition financially?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: Any sport is expensive. If it's not equipment, it's travel or coaching. My skates cost ₹2 lakh, but because I reached a certain level, they were sponsored. Roller skating itself isn't cheap-wheels can cost ₹40,000. At some point, you have to choose.
Q: Has government support improved over the years?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: In Gujarat, we're lucky-the government is willing to support and asks what we need. It's not enough yet, but it's something. Other states like Haryana and some southern states are also stepping up. Winter sports started much later than summer sports, so naturally support will take time.
Q: Looking ahead, how realistic are India's Olympic ambitions in winter sports?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: If we invest now, in four years we can have one short-track skater at the Olympics. In eight years, we can have two long-track skaters competing for medals. Winter sports need an eight-year programme, not quick fixes.
Q: What about coaching-are systems being built there as well?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: I'm wearing two hats-athlete and mentor. I've trained with the best coaches in the world, and now we're sharing that knowledge. Under the new leadership, coaches are being trained, questions are being asked, and problem-solving is the approach. That's a big shift.
Q: Your final message for Indian winter sports?
Vishwaraj Jadeja: We are a big country, change takes time. But now the right questions are being asked. If we keep going in this direction, interesting things will happen. Give winter sports even half the investment of summer sports-and we will be just fine.
