Telangana’s Pranav bags three medals at Asian Open Short Track Championship

Pranav Madav Surapaneni, the young skating sensation from Telangana, delivered a stunning performance at the Asian Open Short Track Ice Skating Championship 2026 held in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Competing against athletes from 14 countries, including powerhouse nations such as South Korea and China, Pranav demonstrated extraordinary speed, determination and composure to win two bronze medals and one silver medal.

His achievement is a moment of immense pride as he continues to make his mark in a sport traditionally dominated by strong skating nations in Asia.

Pranav Madav skates his way to a memorable hat-trick at National Ice-Skating tourney

Pranav produced an outstanding 44.1-second performance in the 500-metre event, earning the bronze medal and recording what is being described as a remarkable benchmark timing for an Indian junior at the championship.

He then added a silver medal in the 1,000m and a bronze medal in the men’s relay. His performance against international competition underlines the scale of his achievement.

Pranav’s Dehradun success is not an isolated achievement. He has already established himself as a leading young skater in India by winning three gold medals at the National Championships.

His national dominance, followed by a breakthrough performance on the Asian stage, shows that Pranav is rapidly developing into one of India’s most promising young short-track speed skaters.

Pranav’s exceptional timings and performance have opened the doors to major international competitions. He has qualified for the World Junior Cup in Italy and the World Championships in Kazakhstan.

Even more significantly, his performances have earned him selection for the Senior World Cup, giving a junior athlete the opportunity to compete against some of the world’s best senior skaters.

His progression represents a significant milestone for Indian short-track skating and demonstrates the growing potential of young Indian athletes in winter sports.

Coaches Qudeer and Lasania shaped Pranav’s career

Pranav’s journey from Telangana to the international podium is a story of talent, perseverance and dedicated coaching. He began his skating development in Telangana under SATS coach Abdul Qudeer, who helped nurture his talent during his formative years.

Pranav later progressed into professional training under Abbas Iqbal Lasania, whose guidance helped him develop into a more competitive and technically accomplished skater.

Pranav is now training under Canadian coach Andrew Fredrick, following a long-term high-performance programme with a clear objective: to target the 2030 Olympic Games.

Pranav’s selection for senior-level international competition at such a young age is a major milestone. His rapid rise has created excitement around the future of Indian short-track speed skating.

With the support of his coaches, family, sporting fraternity and Telangana, Pranav is now setting his sights beyond medals—towards the 2030 Olympic dream.

His journey has been appreciated by Amitabh Sharma, executive committee member of the Olympic Association of India, recognising the promise and potential of this young athlete.

Pranav is emerging as a powerful new force in Indian short-track speed skating. His success is not merely a personal victory, it is a proud moment for Telangana and a landmark moment for Indian winter sport.