Top rivals believe that improved infrastructure, technical expertise, and capacity building are required to advance to the next level.
India’s greatest skaters feel the launch of the Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh will be a game changer for ice sports, but much more work remains to be done. Shruti Kotwal, India’s first professional long track skater based in the United States, and Akash Aradhya, a veteran of short-track sprinting, believe the just finished KIWG at Leh had tremendous potential for skaters with long-term goals. Kotwal and Aradhya have been there, done that, and are witnessing the development of India’s winter sports.
Shruti Kotwal and Akash Aradhya, who won a pair of long track and short track gold medals at the Khelo India Winter Games 2024 in Leh, believe the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) ice rink in the heart of Leh has the potential to become the headquarters of ice sports if it can be converted into an all-weather facility.
Shruti Kotwal returned to India for the first time in ten years. She participated in Guphuks Pond, a natural body of water next to the Indus River encircled by the Zanskar Range that freezes in the winter and serves as a skating and ice hockey rink for local Ladhakis. However, such rinks are not suitable for high-level events, which require mirror clean surfaces, well-defined tracks, and, most importantly, perimeter protection.
Short track and long track skating are fundamentally different. While long track racing is all about timing (time trials), short track racing is a blend of speed and cunning to deceive one another in a group race similar to Formula One.
Athletes don’t wear helmets in long track because air friction impedes their ability to post their best timings. Helmets are required in short track because skaters can slide and connect with the side boards.
Kotwal and Aradhya emphasize the importance of having year-round training and the skills necessary to manage injuries, maintain rinks, and raise safety standards. “A Zamboni, an ice-resurfacing vehicle that cleans and smoothes the ice in a rink, is the most important tool needed to maintain ice.” Without it, an international competition is not possible.
In addition, you require skilled Zamboni operators and an ice repair team that can repair ice damage resulting from collisions and mishaps. The International Skating Union’s safety regulations for rinks must be met above everything else, according to US-based Kotwal.
The NDS facility is a bright spot for elite skaters who have limited access to facilities where they may continuously improve their skills. During the Khelo India Winter Games, the early impressions of India’s best skaters have been positive.
Aradhya goes on to say: “The NDS rink could significantly improve India’s prospects in the sport, especially now that Ladakh will also have a Sports Authority of India sponsored Centre of Excellence that can possibly include ice sports, a natural strength of the region.” Aradhya also emphasizes the benefit of training at higher elevations, which helps athletes adapt to the demands of competing in high-altitude locations.
The Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh have showcased new potential, with participants hailing from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. It is true that most skaters begin as roller skaters and then progress to ice skating because it is still a fairly limited sector and winning national and international titles is relatively easy.
In Leh, a group of under-17 speed skaters in both long and short forms drew attention. Hyderabad’s Nayana Sri Talluri, Uttar Pradesh’s Eklavya Jagal, Maharashtra’s Aarav Patwardhan and Advay Kothari, Karnataka’s Srivatsa Rao, Ladakh’s Skarma Tsultim and Padma Angmo, and Madhya Pradesh’s Udreka Singh all impressed. But that isn’t enough.
“The future is good, but progress must be made quickly. An athlete should concentrate solely on training, diet, and competitions. If you are fortunate enough not to be concerned about other issues such as the financial load and duty of paying for your sport, the outcomes will undoubtedly be in your favor,” says Kotwal, adding that rules and regulations are constantly changing, and authorities in India must stay up to date.
“We need additional quality officials, such as certified starters, referees, and timers. “It is critical that all of these officials are properly trained so that they can host the event and raise awareness,” said Kotwal, who hopes to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Aradhya argues for specialist training in order to compete with the best. India’s flag-bearer during the 2017 Asian Winter Games opening ceremony in Japan insists on “having a coach who can guide you to the international stage is vital.” Pinakin Ayere, a professional coach with a Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Leeds Beckett University in West Yorkshire, has been training Akash Aradhya scientifically since 2012.
Since then, he has routinely qualified for the national team, finishing in the top two positions regardless of age category. “Training without proper and scientific supervision is a waste of time and money,” he goes on to say.
The Khelo India Winter Games in Leh may not have had ideal timing, but there was plenty of intent. The national ice skating organization, in collaboration with the states and Union Territories, will have to decide how to capitalize on this opportunity. Aradhya is hopeful.
“We are not at all near to China, Korea, or Japan on the primary Asian stage. On the other hand, we are competitive when it comes to nations like Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. He made the observation that “our skaters perform admirably, showcasing our talent, despite not having full-time ice rinks.”
