Siblings in Skating Aim for Success at Asian Games:
Siblings Akanksha and Sanchit Yenduru, residing in the city, have been making waves in the world of skating, with one of them achieving significant recognition by winning the Oceania Artistic Skating Championship and Pacific Cup, bringing pride to the country.
Akanksha, 17 years old, and Sanchit, 13 years old, developed an interest in skating five years ago when they relocated to the city from Visakhapatnam and had their first experience with the sport at a local rink. Sanchit, who was only nine years old at the time, was particularly captivated by the extraordinary stunts performed by skaters, especially the axel jump.
Their journey began with artistic skateboarding, and since then, they have never looked back.
Artistic skating is a unique sport that combines elements from various other disciplines. It requires the flexibility of a gymnast, the speed of a sprinter, and the agility of a badminton player, as explained by Akanksha.
Their daily routine commences at 4:30 a.m. with athletic training at LB Stadium, followed by school at 8:45 a.m. Their mother, Madhuri Yenduru, mentioned, “They eat breakfast in the car while heading to school. They’ve managed to maintain a balance between their studies and sports, and I believe that’s what contributes to their overall improvement.” After school, they complete their assignments and then return to the rink or badminton court for further training.
Despite their dedication to the sport, skating is relatively less recognized, and they face several challenges.
Few people recognize or regard skating as a legitimate sport. Among those who do, the focus is often solely on speed skating, with little awareness of artistic skating games. Obtaining sponsorships is challenging, as most sponsors tend to prioritize cricketers and badminton players. Worse, we don’t have enough rinks and training facilities in the city,” noted Madhuri.
Their training is overseen by several coaches, including Amar Nag Yama, Anup Kumar Yama, Brijkishore, Satish Reddy, Rajesh, Murali, Vikranth, and Ashraf, who specialize in fitness, badminton, and skating.
The siblings hope that their recent success will inspire more individuals to take up this exciting sport. They will represent India at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China next month, with aspirations for a podium finish.
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