World Games 2025: Anandkumar Velkumar bags Bronze; becomes first athlete to win India’s first-ever roller skating medal
World Games 2025: Anandkumar Velkumar bags Bronze; becomes first athlete to win India’s first-ever roller skating medal
Digital Desk: India won its first-ever roller skating medal at the World Games on Friday when Anandkumar Velkumar made history in Chengdu, China, by winning bronze in the inline speed skating track event.
Anandkumar Velkumar bagged a historic Bronze???? at the World Games 2025!????
— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) August 16, 2025
Anandkumar Velkumar clinched India’s first-ever medal???? in Roller Skating at the #WorldGames 2025 in China????????. He bagged a Bronze???? in the Inline Speed Skating Track – Men's Sprint 1000m, marking a proud… pic.twitter.com/YHHCAZBBla
With a time of 1:22.482 seconds, he won the men's 1000-meter sprint medal, giving India its highest-ever medal total in a single edition, three medals (1 silver, 2 bronze).
After finishing third in the preliminary round and second in the first heat, Anadkumar guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals. He then came back from behind to finish fourth in a tactical final race. But Colombian skater Juan Jacobo Mantilla Pinilla was eliminated, so Anadkumar took home the bronze.
Anand competed in his fourth event in Chengdu, and in his penultimate event, he finally broke through to win a medal. Later today, he will compete in his final race in the Men's 10,000m Elimination Race final.
