A RevSportz Exclusive
Rohan Chowdhury
Nayana Sri Talluri, hailing from Telangana, is a 16-year-old Indian ice skater who recently won several medals at the Khelo India Winter Games 2025. She started ice skating as a hobby after she was first introduced to the sport during a summer camp in school and eventually started it professionally.
In the KIWG this season, she won a gold medal in the 500m individual event and a bronze each in the women’s and mixed relays. However, this exclusive interaction with the young ice skater aims to bring out a perspective on a sport that’s not so common in Indian households.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: When did you start this sport, and why?
Nayana: I believe it was in 2016. I started this sport as a hobby, through a summer camp, and later wanted to convert it into my profession. So, I started taking it seriously.
Q: What were the initial challenges you faced, since it is not much of a mainstream sport in India?
Nayana: Since it is not a mainstream sport in India, it was quite hard to get media coverage and for people to recognise the hard work we have been putting into this sport. We had to visit a lot of people, including politicians, but we didn’t get much response from them. However, now the sport is growing in India, and more people are getting to know about it, which is a good thing. I believe in the coming days, it will be easier to access this sport.
Nayana, currently in 12th grade, is pursuing commerce with psychology, which will be her major subject from next year in college.
Q: How are you balancing sports and education?
Nayana: Since childhood, I have been managing both sports and studies, so I am used to it. My parents do not pressure me to top my class, so I am fine with average scores. I can manage both pretty well.
Q: Coming from Telangana, where there are no ice-covered mountains, how did you get into this sport?
Nayana: As I mentioned earlier, I started skating as a hobby in a summer camp. I started with roller skating, and after a year or two, my coach recommended me for the Ice-Skating Nationals, which was conducted in Delhi in 2017. I participated there and did pretty well. My first step on ice was very remarkable, and my coach saw potential in me. He helped plan my training, and that’s how I transitioned from roller skating to ice skating.
Q: How do you see the future of this sport? Do you think it can be a stand-alone profession, or will you have to pursue a job alongside?
Nayana: Ice skating was not very famous, but now it is getting more media coverage, and more people are learning about it. It is quite a unique sport, with interesting techniques, gliding, and an adrenaline rush. I feel that more people will take an interest in it and start participating. Ice skating is also an Olympic sport, so the government does provide benefits for medal winners.
There would be around 200 to 300 people who have played the sport and want to pursue it. However, if we talk about professional players, who are actually competitive at the international level, I think there would be around 20 to 30 skaters.
Q: What facilities are currently available in India to nurture winter sports talent?
Nayana: For short-track speed skating, which is my sport, there are very few ice tracks in India, mostly located in the northern region. However, most top skaters are from the southern states, which makes it difficult for them to get good ice time and practice. I believe the sport will grow, and there will be more infrastructure development in the coming years.
Q: Why do you think most top athletes in this sport are from southern states, despite there being no natural ice?
Nayana: I am not sure, and I find it surprising myself. There are skaters from northern states like Delhi and Haryana, but the majority are from the South. One possible reason could be that most schools in the southern states offer facilities to support both sports and academics and the curriculums are designed accordingly. Many children are introduced to skating at an early age through school programs, which helps them develop an interest in unique sports like this.
Q: Are there enough coaches available for this sport in India? Are there any foreign coaches coming in?
Nayana: There are Indian coaches who have played short track before and have a good knowledge of the sport. Foreign coaches do not come to India often, but Indian athletes go abroad to train with them in international camps.
Q: What are the basic expenses required to pursue this sport at a professional level?
Nayana: Short-track speed skating is a very expensive sport. The equipment, travel, and competition costs are quite high. Per camp or competition, expenses can go up to ₹2-3 lakhs. Equipment – boots, blades, helmets, gloves, etc – would cost around ₹2-3 lakhs extra. Athletes have to change boots and blades after a few years. Considering 2-3 international events per year, and the equipment, you can guess the cost – it’s quite an expensive sport.
Q: What is your favourite event in this sport?
Nayana: I prefer the 500-metre event because it is the shortest distance, and I like short races. I also enjoy relay events.
Q: Where do you place India in the global winter sports landscape? How far are we from competing with top countries?
Nayana: I am not sure about all winter sports, but in short-track speed skating, the sport is growing. The number of players participating in international events is increasing, which is a great step forward. I think short-track speed skating will contribute significantly to India’s presence in winter sports.
