Skating as career option will gain prominence: Anup Yama

It is the realisation of a 25-year dream that has been a mixture of extreme lows and extraordinary international highs. I am sure the latest celebration will mark a huge turning point for all roller-skaters in India and serve as an inspiration for the young aspirants.”

That is the euphoric take of India’s best known skater and Hyderabad’s very own Anup Kumar Yama, on landing in the city after receiving the coveted Arjuna Award in New Delhi on Saturday.

Pronto he dedicated the award to his parents, Veeresh (“mentor and inspirational role-model”) and Jaya Yama for their “unwavering confidence in my abilities, innumerable hours of toil, sacrifices and the unflinching support and encouragement all these years that helped me become what I have.”

Indeed, his exploits have been quite awe-inspiring, which is quite noteworthy considering that the sport has always received a raw deal from the authorities. “What makes me happy with the latest recognition is that it can rekindle hope among thousands of youngsters, who will now be reassured that skating can win accolades and make for a fruitful career option,” reasons Anup, a veteran of a dozen World Championship outings and as many Asian Championships in which he has a handsome haul of gold and silver finishes.

“I am pretty confident that following the Arjuna (only the second such instance that comes after three decades), skating will witness an upward surge. Against this backdrop, I fervently hope that the Union and State governments of the day will take steps to accord priority to skating (they bring as many global laurels as other contemporary athletes do) that will be similar to other disciplines like cricket,

tennis, badminton, hockey, volleyball, kabaddi et al. Like me many others pursuing ambitions in skating had to self-fund, which puts an enormous pressure on the elders, particularly when their wards participate in overseas events like the Worlds and Asian,” says the graceful artistic skater, while lamenting that in the absence of quality rinks, he had to, at times, practice in marriage halls that had to double up as skating rinks.

On his next important mission, he says, “The 60th World Artistic Roller Skating Championships in the Colombian city of Cali from September 14-27. Quite naturally, I will go for the gold,” is the confidence with which he will begin his training session after a day’s break.

For one who has been training young boys and girls (some of whom have already demonstrated their talent in national events), Anup Yama hopes that the government would make use of his services so that “I can churn out skating internationals at periodical intervals. All I seek are world-class facilities, infrastructure, financial support, cash incentives and rewards for proven materials.”

It does not sound too ambitious, because Anup has been a good coach and that will hold him in good stead. Incidentally, he wishes to win gold in the Winter Olympics Ice Figure Skating-2018. “I have shown already that I can deliver because although there are no ice-skating rinks in the country I have achieved the top podium finish in the Winter Olympics.”

Anup Kumar Yama has been who has always followed his heart is already setting higher standards for himself and thereby to the skating community.

By:Sridhar K Penna