In a landmark moment for Indian roller-sports, Anandkumar Velkumar and Krish Sharma grabbed double golds at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships in Beidaihe, China. Velkumar, aged 22, became India’s first world champion in the senior men’s 1000m sprint, lighting up the event with a timing of 1:24.924. This win stands out not only because of its historic nature, but because it follows his senior bronze in the 500m sprint—India’s first senior Worlds medal.

Junior athlete Krish Sharma matched the feat in his category, securing gold in the junior men’s 1000m sprint, rounding off a memorable evening for India in speed skating.

Velkumar’s rise has been steady: from a silver in junior worlds in 2021, bronze in the Asian Games relay, to medals at the World Games, and now this crowning achievement. His journey signals more than personal success—this is a signal that Indian inline speed skating is stepping onto the world stage in a big way. For Indian skating, the double gold represents both a reward for persistence and a moment that can inspire many more.