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Rising after a fall can often be one of life's toughest challenges, and Sohan Tarkar exemplifies this resilience. The short-track ice skater from Maharashtra has a history of notable achievements, but he faced a significant setback due to depression nearly six years ago.

Tarkar began his ice skating journey in 2010, reaching the semifinals in the 1500m event at the Asian Winter Games held in Sapporo, Japan, in 2017. He has also qualified for the Junior World Championships multiple times and made it to the Senior World Cups in Germany and Italy. Unfortunately, he was unable to secure a Schengen visa on both occasions, as reported by KIWG.

This led to a deep sense of despair, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of physical activity resulted in a weight gain of 20kg, which is detrimental to his sport. Once fit and athletic, Tarkar found himself in an unrecognizable state, battling a lack of motivation and contemplating retirement from ice skating.

Fortunately, Tarkar's mother, Sonali, intervened and encouraged him to pursue skating once more. Her support proved pivotal, and by late 2023, he decided to transform his life.

"I was really going down. I used to practice six hours daily to maintain my fitness. Before COVID, I weighed 58 kg, but I ballooned to 78 kg. I had completely isolated myself," he shared. "After my mother's encouragement, I traveled to Pune to train under Sameer Gole. By the end of 2023, I participated in trials for the Asian Games and successfully qualified for the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. I currently weigh 65 kg and am working towards regaining my pre-COVID weight. I take pride in my comeback from despair," he added.

At the 2026 Khelo India Winter Games, the 29-year-old faced challenges, including his team's disqualification in the 3000m relay and an unfortunate incident in the 500m final that led to a 'Did Not Finish' status.

However, Tarkar emphasizes that his journey is more about resilience than medals. "I’ve learned that speed doesn’t always guarantee medals; luck plays a significant role too. I've come to terms with that, and it no longer troubles me. I’m just grateful to be back on the rink," he concluded.