It was 20 years ago when the last time an Indian roller skater won a gold medal at the Asian Roller Skating Championship. Anup Kumar Yama, the 24 year-old International Roller Skater from Hyderabad ended the drought at the recently concluded 13th Asian Championship held at Haning, China. The lad from Hyderabad won three golds medals in the inline Freestyle Artistic skating, quad freestyle artistic skating and combined artistic skating and two bronze medals in Figure Artistic skating and Pair Dance skating.
Anup started skating at the tender age of four.
Anup’s father, Veeresh Yama was a big influence in infusing the passion for skating in young Anup.
Veeresh himself was a skater in his younger days and he trained Anup from childhood.
Like every youngster who dreams big, Anup wanted to win a gold medal at an individual event and he made it a double in Haning. Delighted on making a mark, Anup recollecting the moment said, “It is one of the most memorable championship.
It had been a great experience and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.” Anup was involved in all the events at the competition but his specialty is the artistic individual events. Describing the win in the individual competition, “It was a fantastic experience for me, an individual skater has never won so many medals in an Asian competition” added the five medal winner, Anup.
Stressing on the needs for better coaching and better infrastructure in the country he further commented on the lack of sponsorship and visibility of skating as a sport. “My neighbour won’t know that I am a skater actually. I think it’s with the fame of the sport,” laments, Anup, who is also an MBA graduate.
“It’s sad because we don’t get the right kind of recognition and reciprocation from the public and the government. Like any other sport we work equally hard and put the same amount of work as other sportsmen do.” Adding to it, he further comments to sum it up “So tomorrow, if I have to take up skating as my full time profession, I doubt that it will earn my bread and butter,” Despite his win and years of consistent performance at the international stage, there has been hardly any recognition for the young international skater. Though the infrastructure was a major hindrance. However the sight of the new skating rink at Indira Park brings some positive aspects of the sport in the city. “Earlier for practice I used to go to Vishakapatnam or Kakinada to train as the skating rink in Hyderabad does not match to the international standards,” remarks Anup.
He also narrates on the lack of financial support, “We don’t get any reimbursement for any of the expenses. It comes from our own pocket.” Talking about the technical challenges and complexities, “Here in India we are not familiar with the dances but when it comes to jumps and spins we are at par with the other countries spin. We need foreign coaches to train us for the dances,” Anup said.
Anup is now looking towards the next Asian Championship but before that there is the National Championship in January. “I have already started my preparation for the championships,” says a confident Anup. With the new rink at Indira Park, he promises to bring another gold.
