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India’s speed skater Anandkumar Velkumar created history on Monday winning the first ever gold medal for the nation in Speed Skating World Championships 2025 in Beidaihe China. The 22-year-old from Tamil Nadu won the top prize in senior men’s 1000m sprint with a time of 1:24.924 Velkumar’s gold medal came days after his remarkable bronze in the 500m sprint event in the same speed skating championships at Beidaihe. The youngster had secured the bronze medal by clocking 43.072 seconds – India’s first senior medal in these world championships. PM Narendra Modi hailed Anandkumar Velumar’s remarkable achievement as well calling him an ‘inspiration’. “Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for winning the Gold at the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint in the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. His grit speed and spirit have made him India’s first World Champion in skating. His accomplishment will inspire countless youngsters. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all future endeavours” Modi wrote on ‘X’.   Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for winning the Gold at the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint in the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. His grit speed and spirit have made him India’s first World Champion in skating. His accomplishment will inspire countless youngsters.… pic.twitter.com/uewup1bGir — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16 2025 Velkumar’s medals added to the additional success in junior competition with youngster Krish Sharma securing a 1000m sprint gold medal. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju a former Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2019-21 also hailed Anandkumar for his brilliant achievement posting “What a glorious moment for Indian sports! Anandkumar Velkumar clinches Gold in the 1000m Sprint at the Speed Skating World Championship 2025 becoming the first-ever Indian World Champion in the sport. Proud of you Champ!” The Speed Skating World Championships started in Beidaihe on September 13 and will continue until September 21. Anandkumar Velkumar won medal at World Games 2025 in Chengdu as well Earlier this year Velkumar secured another bronze medal in the 1000m sprint in the World Games 2025 in Chengdu. It was India’s first-ever medal in the sport as well. Back in 2021 he had won silver in the 15km elimination at the Junior World Championships giving early signs to his potential on the international arena. Two years later he won another bronze for India in the 3000m team relay at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.