RSFI Nationals Countdown: A weekend away

Karnataka accepting the Speed Trophy at the 50th National Championship.

As National Speed Champions Karnataka, gears up to defend their title yet again, practice kicks into overdrive. After the relatively unimpressive 50^thNationals that Karnataka had, with the team winning less than 30 golds, we were more than 20 gold medals off the target. However this year, with coaches really upping the ante with training, the `50 gold’ target now seems like an achievable dream. In the past, we have got really close at 49 golds, but haven’t been able to break the 50s.

This year, hopefully that will change. With the new Vesmaco coated track in Mysore, it looks like things are really going well. Skaters from all over the country are pouring into Mysore to get into the best shape that they possibly can, for what is the most important competition for most skaters (of course, apart from the Indian Team trials)

So as the big week creeps closer, I decided to talk to some of the people at the helm of the red and yellow battle ship, as well as some of the skaters themselves, about their ideas on the state of Karnataka’s preparation for the 51^stNational Championships.

“I feel like although we couldn’t have an All State camp, the district camps are proving to be sufficient. The skaters are training hard and skating well and so I am confident we will win the Speed trophy again this year.” – Mr. Bharat Kumar, Secretary Karnataka Roller Skating Association

“Karnataka is all set to strike back at this year’s Nationals and will try to regain the sprint titles this year in both men and women.” – Mr.Srikant Rao, Karnataka’s Coach Supreme

“This year’s Nationals will be one of the best ever as the above 16 and 14-16 batches have the highest number of Indian team members which will result in some amazing races. Although I’m confident, I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch.” - G.V Raghavendra, Indian Team member and Multiple Time National Champion

“Training is going fantastic with the new Vesmaco track and I think that this training is going to help me capture the top position again.” - VarshaPuranik, Skater with the maximum National Championships in India and Asian Silver Medallist.

“When it comes to training, I just prepare the best that I can because I know that events like the Nationals are always unpredictable. I just do my best in training and the race, never taking anything for granted and fighting to the very end. I think that doing anything less than your best is just a waste of time” – Akash Aradhya- Indian Team Member, National Gold Medallist and State 300m Record Holder

“This time I have trained really hard for Nationals. After being able to attend the World Championships, I am now highly motivated to really accomplish something at the nationals this year.

“Everyone else is skating really well too so I’m just going to hope for the best.” – Prathik Prasad, Indian Team Member and National Gold Medallist.

“I feel completely prepared for the time trial event but feel like my group racing needs work. Even so, I’m looking forward to going to the Nationals and just doing my best.” – MihirIndudhar, National Gold Medallist

“I am looking forward to performing at my best at the RSFI Nationals. I hope that it will be a great comeback year for me as I have been putting in a lot of hard work and have corrected my technique with the help of my coach. I hope to live up to expectations and overcome any obstacles and challenges that stand in my way to victory.” – HrithikKaradi, Former National Champion

“I have been practicing very hard and with the help of my coach SrikantRao, I’m sure that my performance at the Nationals will be excellent.” – Rea Achaiah, Former National Champion