Mumbai: The 19th National Speed & Figure Skating Championships, India's most anticipated ice-skating event, will commence on 14 August 2024, at ISKATE by Roseate, located in the Ambience Mall of the Millennium City. Hosted under the aegis of the Ice-Skating Association of India (ISAI), the 19th edition of the championship, will bring together top-tier athletes from across the country for a mesmerising showdown on ice.
This year's championship will see participation from 12 states and union territories, including Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Ladakh UT, and J&K UT.
Besides notable skaters like Priyam Tated, Harshita Rawtani, Jatin Sherawat and Tara Prasad, Indian-American figure skating legend Ami Parekh, will add international flair to the event.
The 19th edition of the National Speed & Figure Skating Championships will follow a well-structured format that includes both speed skating and figure skating categories across multiple age groups. Athletes will compete in the following categories:
. Figure skating: Under eight, under 11, under 13, under 15, under 17, under 19, above 19.
. Speed skating: six to eight years, 8-11 years, 11-13 years
Prior to the championship, a National Speed & Figure Skating camp was held from 8 to 13 August 2024, aimed at fine-tuning the athletes' skills and ensuring they are in peak condition for the competition. The championship itself will take place on 4, 16 and 17 August 12024. The competition will be overseen by six judges from the International Skating Union (ISU).
The finals are slated for 17 August 2024, and will be graced by Yogeshwar Dutt, Indian freestyle wrestler and 2012 Summer Olympics Bronze medalist. Also present will be Harmanpreet Singh, captain of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team and twice Olympic bronze medalist.
All participants will receive certificates, with gold, silver, and bronze medals for the winner, first runners-up, and the second-runners-up respectively.
The 18th National Speed & Figure Skating Championships saw remarkable performances, with Tara Prasad (Tamil Nadu) and Vyshnav Nair (Telangana) excelling in Figure Skating, and Sumit Tapkir and Swarali Ashutosh Deo (both from Maharashtra) dominating in Short Track Speed Skating. Haryana led in overall awards, followed by Telangana.
As the 19th National Speed & Figure Skating Championships draws near, excitement builds for what promises to be a convergence of both emerging and established Indian ice-skating talent.
