For more than two decades, he has been into a sport which was invariably treated with disdain by the powers that be.
The 31-year-old skater’s record speaks for itself – winner of the 2013 World championship gold, two bronze medals in the 2010 Asian Games, the first-ever Indian to win a medal (bronze) in the 2012 World championship in inline artistic category and most recently, the prestigious Arjuna Award (only the second roller-skater ever to get this).
In an interview with V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM , Anup Kumar Yama talks about his passion for roller-skating.
How did it feel to receive the Arjuna Award after having missed out on it last year?
Well, it is a simple case of better late than never. I’m glad that I am in the elite group of outstanding sportspersons who got this prestigious Award.
What does this Award mean to you and to the sport?
Personally, it definitely has an aura and a huge sense of pride too. For the sport, I just hope it gets the desired fillip. Except for one rink at Indira Park, the couple of other rinks are makeshift ones wherein even now, hundreds of youngsters try to hone their skills. We badly need a couple of rinks of international standard in the city to start with.
How difficult is it for a skater to be a champion compared to the more glamorous sports?
Yes, you have to be lucky to have parents like mine (Veeresh Yama and Jaya Yama) who have to constantly keep the morale of the kid high, irrespective of the results. The kid should enjoy the sport, basically. Not think of laurels and the consequences when one is just starting out.
Did you get recognition for all your feats?
If you look at my own career, I have taken part in many Asian and World Championships and won a gold in the latter too. But recognition from the Government has come only now, thanks to this Arjuna Award. Even in terms of financial support, the whole perspective has to change. For instance, I got cash incentives only for the two Asiad bronze medals I won and nothing for all the other achievements. This is sad and you can imagine the plight of the average middle-class athlete.
If you are given the option, what will be the first move to popularise the sport?
It is time we focus on creating an indoor stadium in Secunderabad where none exists right now. This is sad, considering the rich sporting history of this part of the State capital. If you remember, I started skating in the corridors of the then MCH office corridors.
What is next for you?
I sincerely believe that this Arjuna Award should spur me to win gold again for India in the next week’s World Championship. I am targeting the Winter Olympics Ice Figure Skating 2018.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / September 08th, 2015