INDIA MAKES HISTORY

The venue of the Municipal Sports Park of Ibagué will be recorded in the history of skating after India won its first medal at a world championship. Neither the rain nor the fatigue after covering 15 kilometers could erase the big smile of Velkumar Anandkumar when he got second place in the junior elimination trial.

The first laps of the competition were hardly consumed when the downpour that had accompanied the development of the first day of the circuit trials worsened. The test grew stronger and tougher, a test of courage and a challenge to danger. But these riders knew that in a world championship, there is no time for regrets; you have to give everything.

With the passing of the laps and the decrease in the number of competitors due to the eliminations, the eyes of locals and strangers were focused on the boy in an orange and white uniform. Everyone wondered who this boy was. It was Velkumar Anandkumar, a skater from India, who remained in the race, with great solvency and fighting for the first places. How nice!

With only two laps to go, Colombian Miguel Fonseca quickened his pace, jumped out of the group, and managed to get an important advantage that allowed him to take the gold medal. The only one to respond and get on his wheel was Velkumar, who passed in second place and achieved a historic event for his delegation by winning the first world medal in the history of skating in his country. Marco Lira, from Portugal, completed the podium.

A gold medal for Miguel Fonseca Vega, from Colombia, and a standing ovation for Velkumar Anandkumar, from India. “I cannot express how I feel. It is the first medal for India. It was difficult, especially in the rain. There was a lot of shoving and everyone was slipping. I was just thinking, let’s cross the finish line, don’t fall. It was tough in the rain. Competing in Ibagué was difficult. Breathing was very difficult during the first few days, but the training sessions were good on the track and the road. “The support in India was fantastic, as were the fans here, everything has been wonderful,” skater Velkumar exclaimed excitedly.