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Indian Speed Skating Team Returns to a Hero's Welcome

The Indian speed skating team, which made headlines at the recent World Championships in China, received a warm reception upon their arrival at Delhi Airport on Tuesday. This remarkable team achieved a record-breaking haul of three gold medals and two bronze medals, marking India's most successful performance at this prestigious event.

Leading the team was senior skater Anandkumar Velkumar, who made history by becoming the first Indian to secure a gold medal in the senior men's 1,000 m sprint, finishing with an impressive time of 1:24.924. He followed this achievement with another gold in the men's marathon and added a bronze in the 500 m sprint, bringing his total medal count to three.

As reported by the official World Skate website, Anandkumar's accomplishments represent a significant milestone for India in a sport that has been largely dominated by European and East Asian nations.

The junior athletes also contributed to India's medal tally, with Krish Sharma winning gold in the junior men's 1,000 m sprint and Anish Raj earning bronze in the junior men's one-lap sprint, culminating in a total of three golds and two bronzes. The championships took place from September 13 to 21 in China.

Tulsi Ram Agarwal, President of the Roller Skating Federation of India, praised the team's achievements, stating, "We are thrilled to have broken through the barriers traditionally held by Western countries in speed skating by winning three golds and two bronzes."

Anandkumar, reflecting on his success, shared, "Winning two gold medals at the world championship feels incredible. The entire team is ecstatic, as this is the first time we have achieved such a remarkable medal count at this level."

He expressed that this success has inspired him to aim for even greater accomplishments in the future.

Junior gold medalist Krish Sharma described his victory as a "dream come true," stating, "I have worked extremely hard for this, and it feels amazing to finally achieve it."

Another junior medalist, Anish Raj, expressed optimism for the future of the sport in India, saying, "I feel fantastic. I believe we can elevate this sport in our country. With the federation's support, we can secure more medals in the future."

The team's outstanding performance has garnered admiration from sports officials and fans, as roller sports continue to grow in popularity in India. This historic medal tally is anticipated to enhance the sport's visibility and inspire greater grassroots involvement in the coming years.