Shruti Kotwal will have her sights set on the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games 2025 in Ladakh as continues to put in the work away from home in the United States for the Asian Winter Games in February in China. (More Sports News)
The 33-year-old is also India’s first professional woman speed skater took part in KIWG in 2024 and put🐻 on an exhibition in her first appearance at these Games.
The Pune-born athlete will be leading India’s charge in th꧂e Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China from February 7-14.
The sports ministry has cleared a squad of 41 athletes for the Games, including speed skaters and the support staff. For Shruti, it will be her s💝econd appearance.
The first was eight years ago, in 2017, w🀅h🌃en the Asian meet was last held in Japan.
After 2017 that saw just three athletes from India, 2025 will be the first🅺 time that the country will be rep🐈resented by such a large contingent.
“This will be my second Asian Winter Games and I’m thrilled to compete again. Countries like South Korea, Japan, and China consistently produce strong skaters who are technicཧally and physically exceptional. I’ve faced some of these competitors in previous events an🎃d understand their strengths. It’s a tough field, but I see every race as an opportunity to push my limits and improve my own performance,” Shruti said in an interview with SAI Media.
The 33-year-old is currently traini💮ng at the Utah Olympic Oval in the US, at the indoor speed skating centre, which was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
“Training in the US, especially at facilities like the Utah ไOlympic Oval, 🔴has been a game-changer. The exposure to world-class coaches, advanced training methodologies, and access to one of the fastest ice tracks in the world has significantly improved my technique, endurance, and speed.
“Competing with and o𝓀bserving some of the best skaters here has pushed me to refine my skills and understand the finer details of the sport. The environment has been incredibly motivating and challenging, which has accelerated my progress,” said Shruti.
The Winter will be a massive opportunity to put his skills to the test against the best skaters in the world and qualif꧙y for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I’m focusing on the 500m and 1000m events for Olympic qualification. The timing requirements are incredibly challꦅenging — sub-40 seconds for the 500m and under 1:20 for the 1000m. My Indian national record is 41.97 seconds and I need to skate under 40 seconds to qualify,” said Shruti.
The first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games 2025 will get un⭕derway in Ladakh on Ja𝔍nuary 23. Skating events will take place at the NDS Stadium and the Gupuks Pond in Leh.
