Interview with Asian silver medallist Harshveer Sekhon

Harshveer Sekhon (left)

Harshveer Sekhon of Punjab, made history at the recently concluded Asian Championships by becoming a part of a very short list of Indian skaters to win an individual international medal. A first time member of the Indian team, Harshveer surpassed all expectations to clinch a silver medal in the junior boys Point to Point event.

Sekhon spoke about his achievements and goals in an interview.

Excerpts:

Being that this was your first Asian championships and being the freshman of sorts on the team, what do you think was the x factor that allowed to finally win that elusive individual international medal for India?

I always had a fierce desire to win an individual medal for both myself and the country. I have always followed the motto ‘’Believe in yourself, adapt and overcome’’ and I guess it worked!

What was it like to be on that podium watching the flag rise?

Watching that flag rise gave me goosebumps! Jokes apart though, it was like a new era of skating in India had begun. Milestones start with a single step. I hope that my step will be the first and that the Indian speed skating family can work together to achieve further milestones, God willing.

Now that we have scaled that first international medal barrier, in all honesty, what are our chances of a world medal in the near future?

Well, according to me. A medal at the World Championships is not too far away. I have a gut feeling that we have the killer instinct in us. However, we do not have a very good support system in India and don’t really get what we deserve.

So what now for you? Keep roller skating? Maybe move to ice at least partially?

Right now, I’m only going to be involved in roller skating and studying. Two more Asian championships and then the World circuit. Also I want to focus on gold at the international level. We do have affiliations to ice skating and are regularly invited so maybe I will participate in ice skating but not as seriously.

How do you feel about the fact that your tremendous achievement was only celebrated in the small world of skating and that you didn’t get the same level of media attention you would have gotten for the same level of achievement in another sport?

While medallists in other disciplines were given a hero’s welcome, we were left to our own devices at the airports. However, once I got back to Ludhiana, I was given a warm and thunderous reception as well as a lot of local media coverage. Celebrations continued for a few days. We Punjabis do not forgo a chance to celebrate with a lot of ‘’Hurrahs and Bbbuuraahs’’!! However it was disappointing not to get any recognition from the administration.