Hyderabad:City-based siblings Akanksha and Sanchit Yenduru clinched three medals at the Asian Skating Championships, held over the weekend at Beijing, China.
Seventeen-year-old Akanksha won the gold medal in the senior quartet category. Her younger brother, 13-year-old Sanchit, won a gold in the youth quartet category and a silver medal in the solo freestyle.
The road to the Asian Skating Championships was no cakewalk for the Yenduru siblings. "We trained rigorously since April, which included participating in four camps and passing three trials for selection," said Akanksha. They received guidance from the esteemed coach, Marco, who hails from Italy and dedicated 15 days to honing their skills.
They participated in two camps in Mohali and two in Vizag. Their mother Madhuri Yenduru expressed her joy and pride and emphasized the pivotal role of support and encouragement from their coaches Amar Nag Yama and Anup Kumar Yama.
The importance of infrastructure and support cannot be understated in their journey. "We aspire to have access to an indoor wooden skating rink, which would enable us to practice for extended hours and gain prior experience on an international floor," said Akansha speaking from China, on how the sport can get better in the city.
Sanchit thanked the management of their school, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Picket, which he said played a vital role in supporting their aspirations, especially Principal Roopinder Singh and sports head Pavan.
With their remarkable achievements at the Asian Skating Championships, the siblings are now gearing up for their next challenge. Their sights are set on the 2024 World Championship and the 2025 Asian Championship, as they continue to strive for excellence in the world of artistic skating.
