India witnessed a new chapter in its sporting history when Anandkumar Velkumar won the country’s first gold medal at the Speed Skating World Championships in Beidaihe, China.
The 22-year-old skater clinched the senior men’s 1000m sprint title with a timing of 1:24.924, making him the first Indian to become a world champion in the sport.
The gold came less than 24 hours after Velkumar had secured a bronze medal in the 500m sprint, clocking 43.072 seconds to give India its first senior medal at the world level.
The weekend of breakthroughs continued with Krish Sharma adding to the tally by winning gold in the junior men’s 1000m sprint, completing a rare double for India at the championships.
🚨 IT'S HISTORY GETTING CREATED FOLKS 🤯
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) September 15, 2025
INDIA'S ANANDKUMAR VELKUMAR IS THE WORLD SPEED SKATING CHAMPION 2025!🏆
He becomes First Ever India to win the GOLD Medal in 1000m Sprint at World C'ship 🏅
IT SHOULD BE HEADLINE OF INDIAN SPORT! 🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/fvDy5OU3FF
Velkumar has been steadily marking his presence on the international stage over the past few years. He won a silver medal in the 15km elimination race at the Junior World Championships in 2021 and was part of the Indian team that claimed bronze in the 3000m relay at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
His progress continued at the World Games earlier this year in Chengdu, where he captured a bronze in the 1000m sprint, becoming the first Indian to win a medal in roller sports at the event.
The recent medals in China now stand as his biggest achievement, with the bronze in the 500m and the historic gold in the 1000m placing him firmly among the best in the world. His success is seen as a breakthrough moment for India in speed skating, a sport where the country had never previously won at the global level.
With medals from the Junior Worlds, the Asian Games, the World Games, and now the World Championships, Velkumar has emerged as a consistent performer who has carried Indian skating into uncharted territory. His performances in Beidaihe mark a significant step for the sport in the country and underline India’s growing strength on the international skating stage.
