Despite having geographically suitable areas for winter sports, India's participation in the Winter Olympic Games has been very negligible. Inadequate facilities, lack of maintenance and training and costly affair have affected the sport badly. Yet, there are few who choose to pick this less popular sport in the subcontinent and are performing impressively.
Pune's Swarali Deo is one of the flag bearers of winter sports in India. The 20-year-old has won two gold medals and several other galore at the international level. She is now aiming for a podium finish at the Winter Olympics to be held in Italy. If she manages to achieve this feat then she will be the first-ever Indian athlete to win a medal in the Winter Olympics.
From Roller Skates to Ice Skates
If the foundation of a career in sports is laid in childhood, then these players achieve great success in future. Swarali started participating in roller skating events when she was six. Since roller skating is not yet an Olympic sport, her coach Subodh Patil suggested that she should pursue a career in ice skating, which is a Winter Olympic event.
Though it is very difficult to make a career for a player who lives far away from ice mountains, Swarali's parents fully supported her in this decision.
She started practising ice skating in 2014 and in the next year, she achieved a gold medal in 500 m and a silver in 1 km speed skating during her debut national competition. This performance justified her decision to change the sport.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
→ Three Silver Medals in South East Asian Trophy) held in Singapore in 2023 Two Gold Medals in 3rd Winter Khelo India Games conducted from 10th to 14th Feb 2023 at Gulmarg, Kashmir
→ Gold Medal at the 18th National Ice Skating Championship, which was held in New Delhi in 2023.
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Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de Sports Champ.
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ICONIC STADIUM
From the ancient grandeur of the Roman Colosseum to the cuttingedge design of Beijing's Bird's Nest, stadiums around the world hold rich histories and enduring legacies. These structures not only host epic events but also reflect the cultural, political, and architectural advancements of their eras.
JUNIOR TALENT RARELY GUARANTEES ELITE SUCCESS
Dr Tania Cassidy, is a professor of sports coaching at the School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Sciences at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research focus is pedagogy, and she uses educational theories to explore the interconnections between coach, athlete, content, and context. During the Sports Champ Talk Show with Chief Editor Bhushan Thakur, she spoke about talent identification, luck factors, and the early and later bloomers in sports. Excerpts:
PURVA EYES GLOBAL SUCCESS
With over 50 medals to her name, including the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati Award, Purva Kinare shares her journey in Yoga and her hopes for representing India in future international competitions.
Ayush Shukla eyes Olympic dream
After claiming India’s first-ever bronze in the World Junior Taekwondo Championship, 17-year-old Ayush Shukla from Ahmedabad is now looking ahead to bigger challenges, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the Olympics.
SCALING HEIGHTS
Shreya Nankar, a 22-year-old from Pune, has excelled in wall climbing and academics, earning over 40 medals in national competitions while pursuing her master’s degree at Arizona University, USA. Recently honoured with the Shiv Chhatrapati Award, she continues to inspire with her exceptional achievements.
Channelise your energy in the proper manner
Tell us about your childhood and liking for sports at an early age
India's fabulous fifth
India secured their fifth Asian Champions Trophy Hockey title with a 1-0 win over China, extending their record in the prestigious tournament. Jugraj Singh's crucial goal brought home the victory, while captain Harmanpreet Singh led the team to their sixth overall title, capping off a dominant campaign.
WINNING TOGETHER
Dr Deepa Malik, former president of the Paralympic Committee of India and a silver medall at the Paralympic Games underscores the pivotal role of collective efforts, meticulous plannin talent discovery, and international exposure in India's remarkable performance at the Pa Paralympics.
KAPIL'S BRONZE BLITZ
Triumph Amidst The Roar
MAKING OF A CHAMPION
Becoming an Olympic gold medallist is no easy feat. For coaches, the process is a long and arduous journey that demands immense dedication, perseverance, and skill.
