Hangzhou: In a spectacular display of skill and determination, India claimed two bronze medals in the roller skating events at the Asian Games 2023 held on Monday. The men’s and women’s speed skating 3000m relay teams showcased their prowess on the roller rink, marking a historic moment for Indian roller skating.
In the women’s relay event, the Indian trio comprising Karthika Jagadeeswaran, Heeral Sadhu, and Aarathy Kasturi Raj clinched the bronze medal with a commendable timing of 4:34.861. The Indian team displayed remarkable teamwork, finishing behind Chinese Taipei (4:19.447) and the Republic of Korea (4:21.146). Sanjana Bathula, the fourth member of the Indian squad, was part of the team but did not compete. The podium finish marked a significant achievement for India, breaking the medal drought in roller skating since the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
In the men’s relay, the trio of Vikram Rajendra Ingale, Siddhant Rahul Kamble, and Anandkumar Velkumar raced under the Indian flag, securing another bronze for the nation. Despite Aryanpal Singh Ghuman not participating in the race, the Indian team showcased their skill and determination by qualifying for the final after finishing second in heat 2 with a timing of 4:15.126. In the final, they further improved their timing to 4:10.128, securing the third spot on the podium. The gold in the men’s relay went to Chinese Taipei (4:05.692), narrowly beating South Korea (4:05.702) in a thrilling photo finish.
These bronze medals not only opened India’s roller skating medal tally at the Asian Games 2023 but also marked the country’s return to the podium in roller skating after a gap of thirteen years. The last roller skating medals for India were achieved in 2010 in Guangzhou, when Anup Kumar Yama secured a bronze in the men’s singles free skating event and teamed up with Avani Panchal to claim another bronze in the pairs skating competition.
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