Pranav Madav Surapaneni, a young ice skating talent from Telangana, has made history by qualifying for the Junior World Cup in Short Track Ice Skating, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan. He is the first skater from Telangana to qualify for this esteemed global event, and one of only three Indians to achieve this feat this year. Pranav’s journey in ice skating began seven years ago at a summer camp, where he was identified by Coach MA Qudeer, the sole certified ice skating coach in Telangana. Under Qudeer’s mentorship, Pranav swiftly progressed, winning medals consistently at the district, state, and national levels.
Over the past five years, he has been a national medallist and has earned medals at the Khelo India Winter Games for three consecutive years. In the 2025 Khelo India Winter Games, the 15-year-old secured three medals while competing in the senior category, significantly aiding Telangana’s fourth-place finish. His accomplishments have garnered recognition from the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATS), with Vice Chairman A Sonibala Devi and Chairman Shiva Sena Reddy encouraging him to aspire for the Olympics. Pranav also receives vital support from Amitab Sharma, President of the Ice Skating Association of India.
Earlier this year, he earned a silver medal at the Asian Open Short Track Championship in Dehradun, where he achieved the qualifying time for the Junior World Cup. He is currently in South Korea, receiving advanced training from top coaches. “My main goal is to represent India at the Winter Olympics,” expressed the 16-year-old athlete, who has called for support and sponsorship due to the significant financial burden of training abroad amidst India’s limited infrastructure. Pranav’s journey exemplifies the emerging talent of Telangana in winter sports.