Anup Kumar Yama: Lord of the Rinks
Hyderabad: At 29, Anup Kumar Yama has conquered the world. At the just-concluded 58th World Artistic Roller Skating Championships at Taipei City in Taiwan, Anup was crowned the world champion in the men's inline freestyle championship.
“I beat the odds, I beat former world champions and now, I'm the best in the world. I'm on the top of the world!“ said Anup on Wednesday, pride, excitement and delight jostling for prominence on his face.“
“I was carrying a small injury while competing,“ Anup recalled. “But all I had on my mind was that I was representing India, a great nation. There were 25 skaters from 20 countries competing against me but I'm the best right now because I'm an Indian,“ was his emotional declaration.
His father and coach, Veeresh, was ecstatic. “We had been waiting for this day for a long, long time,“ he said, adding: “We knew he was going to become the world champion some day, and that day has finally come.“
Anup was quick to give his father the lion's share of the credit for his success. He spared no words in speaking about the kind of of hard work his father put in to ensure he has the best shot at winning a medal. “My father has always been there for me,“ Anup said.
“We would be at the rink for practice everyday by 3.30 in the morning, be it a festival or my birthday or his birthday . It took more than 25 years for me to reach this position, and more than my efforts, it was my father's efforts that have borne fruit.“
It has been an arduous climb up the ladder for Anup. “I competed at my first Worlds 10 years ago and I had finished second from last then,“ he recalled. “But I steadily improved. Over the last five years, I finished in the top 10. Last year I stood third and now, I'm the champion,“ he said with a bright smile.
Now, Anup feels there are great things in store for him. “I am likely to be conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award.“
Recounting his performance at the Worlds, Anup said: “The defending champion was a Taiwanese skater, Chun Lee. He had all the local support while I had just the Indian team manager, coach and the doctor with me. I feel like I win despite the odds being stacked against me.“
Apart from inline, Anup was supposed to compete in the traditional quad freestyle category as well, but a freak accident on the morning of the event forced him to pull out.
“ I was practising my rou tine when I landed awkwardly after a jump and cracked a rib. It was a minor injury, but it meant I couldn't compete in this event.“
Chockful of confidence, Anup -who runs his own academy at Marredpally in Secunderabad -now says he will focus his energies on encouraging young talent.
“It is now my duty to help young and upcoming skaters realise their full potential. Anyone who needs any help can approach me,“ said the newly-crowned World Champion, also ranked No.1 in the world. in the world.
Dr Sapna, an official of the Roller Skating Association of AP, was hardly able to contain her happiness at Anup's achievement. “It's hard to put in words what Anup's achievement means,“ she said. “He has transcended the boundaries of a normal Indian sportsperson. Anup had the dream to achieve big things, but he also backed it up with talent, practice and tremendous discipline,“ she added.