Huge recognition: Anup Kumar Yama

“Awesome!” shrieked Hyderabad figure skater Anup Yama when this newspaper broke the news that he has been recommended for the Arjuna Award on Tuesday evening.

The 30-year-old couldn’t quite contain his joy. “It means a lot to me. You can’t imagine how badly I needed this. It’s a huge recognition,” Anup said.

He had longed for this indeed, having achieved a long list of laurels in a sport that was alien to most Indians when he took to it 26 years ago. For the record, Anup has won the gold and bronze medals at World Championships to go with the eight golds, five silvers and nine bronzes at the Asian level.

“The sport’s so unpredictable. It’s about maintaining your balance and poise at literally break-neck speeds,” he says. “I’ve suffered stitches on my chin, upper lip, wrist, both shins; broken ribs, torn ligaments, twisted ankles. They all seem worth it now,” he beams.