City skaters on a roll
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What started off as a pastime on a summer holiday soon became her passion. And last week, city girl Shraddha Reddy showed her mettle winning bronze in the junior women’s five-kilometre road-team-relay event at the 14th Asian Roller Skating Championship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Teaming up with Kanika Bhalla (Gujarat) and K. Aarthy (Tamil Nadu) Shraddha scripted a stunning victory for India. Incidentally, Shraddha at 14 years became the youngest Asian to win a medal in the category.
The medal-winning efforts seem to have as a complete surprise to her. “I never expected to win a medal in this tournament,” Shraddha told this newspaper soon after her return from Taiwan.
For Shraddha, a trainee from the Lasania’s Roller & Ice Skating Academy in Hyderabad, this was her first tournament overseas and she had approched it as an experience trip. But her stupendous form earned her a brilliant result.
“This was my first international tour and I never dreamt of doing so well. I took it as an exposure trip but I gave my best at the race,” the Chirec Public School Class IX student said.
Her success, she feels, is a result of hard work and passion towards the sport. “I had no special set of plans for the Taiwan tournament. I practiced twice daily — attending camps and concentrated on my improving my performance,” said Shraddha.
With tournaments like the World Championships (in Columbia in October) and the Asian Games (in China in November) lined up, Shraddha is eager to put up a decent show.
“I want to go out and give my best… I know expectations would be high and there would be pressure on me… I hope for the best,” said Shraddha.
Meanwhile, Anup Kumar Yama, who won one gold, one silver and a bronze in the senior category of men’s inline freestyle, men’s combined and pair skating respectively in Taiwan, dedicated his win to his coach, father Veeresh Yama.
“I dedicate the win to my father. What I am today is because of him. He inspired me and helped me grow as a skater. The standard of competition in Taiwan was high and I enjoyed performing there. I am immensely happy with my performance,” Anup said.
Talking about his preparations for the meet, Anup said that his 15-day stint in Italy with Ruben (a skating coach) helped him improve his skills. “The 15-day training programme under Ruben helped me a lot,” the 25-year old said. Asked how tough it was to continue with a lesser popular sport, Anup said the zeal to represent the country kept him going. “At times, it is painful and very disheartening when I find that people don’t know me though I have won so many medals. But that never comes to my mind when I represent India,” Anup said.
Talking about his next assignments (the World Championship and Asian Games) Anup said: “You can call me the senior most skater in the country. I have been into this sport since I was four and have won many medals but still have the same fervor for it. I work out just as much as I used to in my childhood days. In every championship I wish to improve my performance and hope to continue the winning run.”
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