Bengaluru based 14-year-old skating champion Hrithik Karadi has been on a winning spree. He won the 53 National Roller Skating championship recently. He bagged four gold medals in the 20 km road elimination race, 15 km Fink elimination race, 10 km rink points race and 21 km marathon in the under 12 boys category.
He also won a bronze medal in team relay in the under-16 category. In December, Hrithik had an opportunity to attend a camp and compete at the Indian Ice Skating Nationals at Gulmarg and won the junior A&B combined title. He is happy with his performance in Gulmarg.
“It is difficult and conditions are different. Instead of wheels, you are skating with blades and you need control and focus. I had to cope with the low centre of gravity and higher altitude,” says Hrithik.
Ice-skating, which is an Olympic sport, is restricted to few places like Gulmarg and Shimla. Roller skating is popular in other parts of the country.
In roller skating, line and speed skating too needs practice, concentration and skill and Hrithik, who is a student of Samhita Academy in Bengaluru, has mastered the technique. Hema, his mother, who is a software professional, who claims that she is Hrithik “biggest cheerleader,” makes it a point to be with him during competitions and training sessions. Hrithik’s younger sibling, Shreyas, has also made start in skating, impressed by brother’s feats
Off the skating rink, Hrithik relaxes by watching other sports and reads on environmental issues. He plans to take up higher studies in renewable energy.
“Skating is catching up in Asia, but we better facilities, especially the equipment and infrastructure for quality training. It will help skaters aspiring to compete at the international level,” says Hemal.
