Hyderabad skaters win Asian glory

Skaters from Telangana State, the celebrated Anup Kumar Yama and rising sensation Sivakumar Manish scripted a glorious chapter for the State in the 17th Asian Roller Skating Championship 2016 that was held recently in the Chinese province of Lishui.

Yama, the first skating Arjuna awardee, bagged two gold and an equal number of silver medals in the senior category while Manish announced his arrival on the international firmament with a gold medal in the cadet age-group category.

They were accorded a grand reception on their arrival to the city on Wednesday. Ram Prasad Srivastava, General Secretary, Roller Skating Association of Telangana, stated that this was great news as they had achieved in a coveted event.

Yama was at his best in artistic figure skating, combined, free skating and inline figure skating, which are disciplines he has excelled over the years.

Manish Sivakumar, who trains under Veeresh Yama and Amar Nag Yama for close to six hours every day, secured his gold in artistic free skating.

Meanwhile, Yama said that he had benefitted tremendously under Italian coach Ruben Omar Genchi, when he was provided advanced training just prior to the Championship.

"It feels great that we could prove our credentials in an event of this magnitude. What makes it even more emotional is that we defied all odds and managed to develop the best of skills despite abject lack of good infrastructural facilities.

There has been no financial support from the government and sport authorities. This is sad because I have been bringing international laurels to both the State and the country.

Alas, all my fellow-skaters also had to spend money from our pockets to get trained in India and abroad,” pointed out Anup Yama.

He further appealed to the Union and State Governments to rise to the occasion and treat skaters on par with those from other disciplines, who bring global honours.

Manish said, "I am thrilled. It was a wonderful moment when the National flag was raised and the National Anthem was played because of me.

It was exciting to compete and score over competitors who came from Thailand, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South Korea.”