Golden Glory! Anandkumar Velkumar scripts history for India, PM Modi showers praise

India’s Anandkumar Velkumar made history by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal at the Speed Skating World Championships 2025 in Beidaihe, China.

Beidaihe: India's speed skater Anandkumar Velkumar created history on Monday. He won the country's first gold medal at the Speed ​​Skating World Championships 2025 held in Beidaihe, China. The 22-year-old from Tamil Nadu topped the senior men's 1000m sprint.

Anandkumar won the gold medal a few days after, he won a bronze medal in the 500m sprint event at the same speed skating championship. The youngster had clocked 43.072 seconds to bag the bronze. This is India's first senior medal at the World Championships.

PM Modi Congratulates Him

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Anandkumar Velkumar's remarkable achievement and called him an 'inspiration'. PM Modi wrote on 'X', "Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for winning the gold medal in the senior men's 1000m sprint event at the Speed ​​Skating World Championships 2025. His grit, speed and passion have made him India's first world champion in skating. His achievement will inspire countless youngsters. Congratulations to him and best wishes for all his future endeavours."

Proud of Anandkumar Velkumar for winning the Gold at the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint in the Speed Skating World Championships 2025. His grit, speed and spirit have made him India’s first World Champion in skating. His accomplishment will inspire countless youngsters.… pic.twitter.com/uewup1bGir

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2025

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Kiren Rijiju Also Appriciate

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who was the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports from 2019-21, also lauded Anandkumar's remarkable achievement, posting, "What a proud moment for Indian sports! Anandkumar Velkumar wins the gold medal in the 1000m sprint at the Speed ​​Skating World Championships 2025, becoming the first Indian world champion in the sport. Proud of you, champion!"

What a glorious moment for Indian sports!
Anandkumar Velkumar clinches Gold in the 1000m Sprint at the Speed Skating World Championship 2025, becoming the first-ever Indian World Champion in the sport.
Proud of you, Champ! pic.twitter.com/DbXd4NowX4

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 15, 2025

The Speed ​​Skating World Championships began on September 13 in Beidaihe and will continue till September 21.

Anandkumar Velkumar Achivements

Anandkumar Velkumar also won a medal at the World Games 2025 in Chengdu. Earlier this year, Velkumar won another bronze medal in the 1000m sprint at the World Games 2025 in Chengdu. This was also India's first medal in the sport.

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In 2021, Anandkumar won a silver medal in the 15km elimination at the Junior World Championships, giving early signs of his potential at the international level. Two years later, he won another bronze medal for India in the 3000m team relay at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.