Indian skater Anirudhan Vinod described hearing the national anthem from the top of the podium at the World Skate Games 2026 in Asuncion, Paraguay as one of the proudest moments of his life, after clinching a gold in the Junior Men's Road 1-Lap and a silver in the Junior Men's 200m Dual Time Trial. His double-medal haul was part of a strong overall showing by India, which finished the Games with seven medals in total.

A Historic Moment for Kerala Skating

Speaking at a celebration ceremony in New Delhi on 22 October 2026, Anirudhan reflected on the significance of his achievement, not just personally but for his home state. 'I have come a long way, from Kerala. I feel so proud, because this is the first time that a Malayali from Kerala climbed to the top. I feel so proud of myself. I want to thank my family and my coaches,' he said. The Kerala-born skater noted that no fellow Malayali had previously scaled the top of the podium at the World Skate Games, making his gold a landmark for the skating community in the state.

College Break That Paid Off

Anirudhan revealed that he made the calculated decision to take a complete break from college in order to dedicate himself fully to preparation for the Games. 'I took an entire break from college to prepare for this. I am so happy that it came good in the end. It was a proud moment when I heard the national anthem as all the hard work paid off,' he said. His next stated ambition is clear: 'My next aim is to become world champion in senior,' he added, signalling that this is only the beginning of his competitive journey.

India's Bronze in Junior Women's Relay

Charita Sri Madepudi was another standout performer, winning a bronze medal in the Junior Women's 3000m Relay alongside teammates Rutva Prakash, Pragathi Shivabalan, and Lakshita Ranjith Kumar Sinthu. Speaking about the demands of competitive skating, Madepudi shed light on the discipline required at this level. 'Our sport is really challenging, where we need balance and coordination. It is a really fast sport, where you should be really quick and concentrated,' she said. She trained twice daily — once in the morning and once in the evening — with a focus on strength training and coordinated team drills ahead of the Games.

Balancing Sport and Studies

Madepudi also highlighted the challenge of sustaining athletic ambitions alongside academic commitments, a reality shared by many young Indian athletes. 'It is not easy to win a medal in world skating games. I want to continue the sport along with my studies; I want to balance it,' she said. This dual pursuit of competitive excellence and education reflects a broader pattern among India's emerging generation of skaters, many of whom receive limited institutional support compared to athletes in Olympic mainstream sports.

India's Broader Medal Push at Asuncion 2026

India's seven-medal haul at the World Skate Games 2026 in Asuncion underscores the country's growing competitive depth in roller sports. Skating remains outside the Olympic programme, which limits funding and visibility, yet Indian athletes have increasingly punched above their weight at world-level competitions. Anirudhan's gold and Madepudi's relay bronze represent the kind of grassroots breakthrough that advocates of the sport have long argued could be replicated more widely with structured state support.