BENGALURU, Mar 4: India’s ice skater Vishwaraj Jadeja secured the second position for India at the 32nd Masters Alright Games International Races held at Enschede in Nerherlands on Sunday.
Vishwaraj, the national record holder in ice skating, secured second position for India after finishing first in 500m, and second in 1500m, 3000m and 5000m.
This achievement marks one of the highlights of a successful ice skating season for the ice skater from Gujarat, following his previous success at the World Master Games 2024, where he won four medals including a gold at Baselga di Pine in Trento.
Vishwaraj had won gold in 10km and silver in 5km and 3 km dash. The skater also finished third in a 1km race and won bronze.
“This achievement is historic as it surpasses all expectations as India does not have the infrastructure for long-track speed skating,” Vishwaraj told UNI from Enschede on a WhatsApp call.
Training for a long period on his own away from family is also very difficult and skating 4 distances in 3 days is a very tough job, he added. The Ahmedabad star had won three silvers and a bronze in 2020.
With these accomplishments, Vishwaraj has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of Winter sports athletes in India. On his achievement at the World Master Games 2024, Vishwaraj said the journey to victory was laden with challenges from Day 1 as the venue of the competition was shifted from Lago Palu in Lambordia to Trento.
The event managers had to shift the venue after the naturally frozen Lago Palu became unsuitable due to warm weather, he said. “A last-minute shift to Baselga di Pine, Trento, brought its own set of challenges with an artificially aspirated ice track and unpredictable weather conditions,” he said.
He said the 10km and 1km races, held on the same day, tested participants’ mettle with heavy crosswinds and a bone-chilling temperature of 3 degrees below zero. “Navigating through these adversities, battling frostbite fears, and crossing the finish line first made this race an unforgettable experience,” Vishwaraj said.
Asked about his ambitions, Vishwaraj said he wants to represent India at the Asian Winter Games 2025 and at the Winter Olympics for India in 2026.
Asked how he took up this sport, Vishwaraj said, “My love affair with speed skating began as a natural extension of my family’s athletic legacy. The thrill of gliding on ice, the wind rushing past me, and the sheer speed became irresistible. Speed skating offers a unique blend of physical prowess and technical finesse, and it was this combination that captured my heart.”
Also, the World Winter Masters Games (WWMG)’s reputation for bringing together top-notch athletes from around the world and its commitment to fostering a spirit of camaraderie drew him in, Vishwaraj said.
“I was determined to be part of this prestigious competition and showcase the culmination of my years of dedication to speed skating. Additionally, I intend to improve even more,” he said.
Vishwaraj is a third-generation athlete in the family. His grandfather Bharatsinh P Jadeja used to play hockey for Gujarat University, his father Rajendrasinh B Jadeja was a roller-skater national champion and his aunt Krishnaba B Jadeja represented India at the world championship in 1983 for Figure Skating roller skating. (UNI)
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