Tamil Nadu’s Anandkumar Velkumar won silver in the men’s 1,000-metre sprint at the World Skate Games 2026 in Asunción, Paraguay, on October 14. The 23-year-old Indian speed skater clocked 1 minute 21.922 seconds, finishing just four milliseconds behind Italy’s Duccio Marsili, who won gold in 1:21.918. Velkumar had also secured bronze in the 500-metre sprint, taking his medal tally at the competition to two as of October 15. His latest achievement builds on a historic 2025 season, when he became India’s first senior world champion in speed skating.
A Four-Millisecond Finish
The men’s 1,000-metre sprint final was decided by a margin of just 0.004 seconds. According to the published results, Marsili finished first in 1:21.918, followed by Velkumar in 1:21.922. Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Cheng Tseng claimed bronze in 1:22.343.
Velkumar’s silver came a day after he won bronze in the 500-metre sprint on October 13, finishing in 40.856 seconds. The two podium finishes demonstrate his competitiveness across sprint distances at the international level. The World Skate Games are being held in Asunción from October 10 to 18, bringing together athletes from several skating disciplines.
Akashvani News reported the silver-medal result on October 14. Its report also noted that Velkumar would have another opportunity to compete for a medal in the marathon scheduled for October 18. As of October 15, that event remains upcoming, and no result should be reported until it is confirmed.
🇮🇳𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐊𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐑 𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐊𝐔𝐌𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐑!🥈 India’s Anandkumar Velkumar won a silver medal in the men’s 1000-meter sprint category at the World Skate Games in Paraguay. He displayed an excellent performance in the men’s 1000-meter sprint event, clocking a time of 1 minute 21.922 seconds. The time difference between the gold medalist and Anandkumar was just 4 milliseconds. #WorldSkateGames
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) October 14, 2026
From Chennai to Glory
Velkumar’s journey began in Chennai, where he took up skating at the age of six after watching his elder sister, Subi Suvetha Velkumar, participate in the sport. He began competing at district level around the age of seven and represented Tamil Nadu at national competitions by the age of nine.
In 2021, he won silver in the 15-kilometre elimination event at the Junior World Championships in Colombia, becoming the first Indian to win a medal at a skating world championship. He later represented India at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, held in 2023, where he won bronze in the men’s 3,000-metre relay.
Alongside his sporting career, Velkumar pursued computer science at the College of Engineering, Guindy, Anna University, in Chennai. In an October 2025 interview with Rediff, he discussed his training routine of around four hours daily, sometimes extending to five, and acknowledged the support his family provided during his early international competitions. He also spoke about receiving assistance from the Tamil Nadu government after his 2021 world championship medal.
A Historic World Champion
Velkumar reached a career-defining milestone at the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships in Beidaihe, China. He won bronze in the 500-metre sprint before claiming gold in the senior men’s 1,000-metre sprint. He subsequently won gold in the 42-kilometre marathon, finishing the championships with two gold medals and one bronze.
His victory in the 1,000-metre event made him the first Indian to win a senior world championship gold in skating. The achievement earned recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who congratulated him in a statement published by the Press Information Bureau on September 16, 2025.
“His grit, speed and spirit have made him India’s first World Champion in skating,” Modi said, adding that Velkumar’s accomplishment would inspire young people. The Prime Minister also extended his congratulations and best wishes for the athlete’s future endeavours.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Velkumar’s achievement is a reminder that sporting excellence is built through years of discipline, perseverance and support. Finishing four milliseconds behind the gold medallist may be a narrow miss, but his silver medal deserves recognition in its own right.
India’s sporting ecosystem must extend its attention beyond widely followed disciplines and create better opportunities for athletes in sports such as speed skating. Investment in coaching, modern facilities, equipment and international exposure can help young people pursue sporting careers while continuing their education. Velkumar’s journey also highlights the importance of family encouragement and institutional support in helping talent reach the world stage.
As India continues to celebrate achievements across disciplines, how can we ensure that athletes in lesser-known sports receive the recognition and resources they need to succeed?
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