Anandkumar Wins India’s First-Ever Gold at Speed Skating World Champions

India achieved an unprecedented milestone at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships in Beidaihe, China, as two Indian athletes—Anandkumar Velkumar and Krish Sharma—clinched gold medals in their respective categories. The event marked India’s first-ever World Championship titles in speed skating, a sport traditionally dominated by countries like South Korea, Colombia, and Italy.

Anandkumar Velkumar: India’s First Speed Skating World Champion

• Anandkumar Velkumar, a 22-year-old from India, created history by winning gold in the senior men’s 1000m sprint, clocking 1:24.924. This win followed his bronze medal finish in the 500m sprint, where he clocked 43.072 seconds, becoming India’s first medalist in the senior category at the World Championships.
• Velkumar’s consistent rise in the international skating scene is reshaping India’s presence in the sport. Earlier in 2025, he had also secured a bronze medal at the World Games in Chengdu—India’s first-ever roller sports medal at that global event.

Krish Sharma Adds to the Glory in Junior Category

Joining Velkumar in the record books, Krish Sharma clinched gold in the junior 1000m sprint, making it a double celebration for India at the championship. Sharma’s win signifies a strong pipeline of talent and suggests a promising future for India in the global roller sports arena.

Anandkumar’s Journey: From Junior Silver to Global Gold

Velkumar’s rise has been steady and spectacular,

• 2021: Won silver in the 15km elimination race at the Junior World Championships
• 2023: Part of the Indian team that won bronze in the 3000m relay at the Asian Games in Hangzhou

2025

• Bronze at World Games, Chengdu (1000m sprint)
• Bronze at World Championships (500m sprint)
• Gold at World Championships (1000m sprint)

His performances highlight India’s growing presence in a sport where the country previously had minimal representation.

Significance: A Turning Point for Indian Roller Sports

Velkumar’s gold and Sharma’s junior triumph are being hailed as revolutionary achievements in Indian sports. These medals,

• Mark India’s arrival on the world speed skating stage
• Showcase the potential of Indian athletes in non-mainstream sports
• Set the tone for increased support, infrastructure, and visibility for roller sports in India

With multiple medals at Asian Games, World Games, and now the World Championships, Velkumar has emerged as a trailblazer, inspiring a new generation of Indian skaters.

Important Takeaways

• Event: Speed Skating World Championships 2025
• Location: Beidaihe, China
• India’s First-Ever Gold Medals in the event’s history
• Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint Winner: Anandkumar Velkumar – 1:24.924
• Junior 1000m Sprint Winner: Krish Sharma
• Velkumar also won bronze in 500m sprint (43.072s)