When figure skating made its exciting debut at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 in Ladakh, it marked a significant moment for Indian sports. This wasn’t just about introducing a new sport; it was a long-awaited national platform for athletes. In the centre of this important moment stood Abhijith Amal Raj from Kerala, who triumphantly won a gold medal in the men’s advanced figure skating category. His victory was not merely a personal achievement; it represented a milestone for niche sports in India.
Abhijith is no stranger to success. He is one of India’s most talented artistic figure skaters and has an impressive track record. He previously became a world champion in artistic roller skating, securing gold at the World Roller Skating Championship in 2019, as well as winning gold at the Asian Roller Skating Championships in both 2023 and 2025. Additionally, he clinched victory at the World Skate Oceania and Pacific Cup in 2023. While his gold medal at the Khelo India Winter Games was a remarkable achievement, it also symbolized his return to ice skating, allowing him to compete on a prominent stage in his home country.
Abhijith’s journey began at a very young age. He started skating almost as soon as he could walk, donning skates before he could properly speak. He began formal training at just three years old. However, in Kerala, access to ice skating was limited. The costs of equipment, coaching, and necessary infrastructure turned his talent into a test of endurance and financial strain. Understanding this, Abhijith’s father decided to invest everything into his son’s training.
By the time Abhijith turned nine, he was already being coached by the Arjuna awardee Anup Kumar Yama. Later, he trained under Luca d’Alisera, an eleven-time Artistic Roller Skating World Champion and international coach, which required traveling to Italy. The expenses were considerable; coaching alone cost 100 Euros an hour, four hours a day, resulting in expenses in lakhs over just one month. To support this, Abhijith’s family sold property and moved into a rented home. Although government support came later, the foundation of his career was built on years of sacrifice and struggle.
Before he fully transitioned to artistic roller skating, Abhijith had already established a strong background in ice figure skating. In 2014, he won gold at several international events, including the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in Taiwan, the Dubai Golden Cup, and the Malaysian Open National Championship. He also secured national titles in 2013 and 2014. In 2016, he achieved another international gold in Malaysia before narrowing his focus primarily to roller skating, where he ultimately reached the pinnacle of success. His gold medal at the Khelo India Winter Games 2026 is significant as it marks his return to the ice after nearly a decade.
Abhijith’s story highlights the challenges faced by athletes in niche sports like figure skating in India. For many years, aspiring figure skaters had to seek training and competition opportunities abroad, something most families could not afford. Now, at just 24 years old, Abhijith is dedicated to changing this narrative.
Alongside his figure skating partner, Vacasya Lakshmi Narayanan, who is also a gold medalist in the Asian Roller Skating Championship 2025, Abhijith co-founded Adler Vision. This academy aims to train young athletes across India, primarily based in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Since its establishment two years ago, the academy has successfully enrolled over 100 students. They have invited top international coaches, like Luca d’Alisera and Rachele Campagnol from Italy, to provide aspiring skaters with exceptional training without needing to travel overseas. The academy begins with roller skating and eventually transitions athletes into figure skating, preparing them for competitions like Khelo India.
Abhijith emphasizes that at Adler Vision, they start with roller skating, and based on each skater’s interest and performance, they guide them toward ice skating or help them excel in roller skating. “Our skaters have already participated in many national and state-level roller skating competitions, and with platforms like Khelo India, we aim to send selected skaters to upcoming ice skating championships,” he mentions. Abhijith was also recruited by the Income Tax department of Maharashtra under the sports quota in 2024.
For Abhijith Amal Raj, Khelo India is about more than just medals. He proudly calls it a “prestigious championship.” His goal in Ladakh is to inspire young athletes at his academy and show them that there are meaningful national platforms available. The 6th edition of the Khelo India Winter Games featured 23 skaters from eight different states, highlighting a promising beginning for winter sports in a predominantly tropical nation like India.
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Original Text – https://www.thehansindia.com/sports/on-khelo-india-winter-games-debut-keralas-abhijith-amal-raj-returns-to-ice-and-brings-more-than-winning-gold-1042636