Paraguay: India’s Anandkumar Velkumar won a silver medal in the men’s 1000-metre sprint at the World Skating Games in Paraguay, adding to the bronze he secured in the 500-metre sprint earlier in the competition.

Velkumar clocked 1 minute 21.922 seconds in the final, finishing just four milliseconds behind the gold medallist. The narrow margin underlined the quality of his performance in one of speed skating’s most demanding sprint events.

The result makes the 2026 World Skate Games a highly successful campaign for the Indian skater, who has now won two medals in Paraguay. He will have another opportunity to extend his tally when he competes in the marathon on Sunday, October 18.

Velkumar’s double-medal achievement is a significant boost for Indian roller skating, a discipline in which the country has steadily built an international presence. His ability to compete across sprint distances suggests he could be a strong contender in the longer marathon event as well.

The World Skating Games bring together athletes from several skating disciplines, with speed skating among the most competitive events. Medals at the Games carry considerable prestige and provide valuable international exposure ahead of future world championships and multi-sport competitions.

India will now watch Velkumar’s progress in the marathon with interest, hoping he can complete a memorable three-medal campaign. His performances have already made him one of the standout Indian athletes at this year’s Games.