Shruti Kotwal Eyes 2026 Winter Olympics Qualification, Wishes Skaters Ahead Of KIWG 2025

Shruti Kotwal will have her eyes on the upcoming Khelo India Winter Games 2025 in Ladakh even as she trains in the United States for the Asian Winter Games in February in China. India's first professional woman speed skater took part in KIWG last year and produced some standout performances in her maiden appearance at these Games. The 33-year-old from Pune will be leading India's charge in the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China from February 7-14. The sports ministry has cleared a squad of 41 athletes for AWG.

These include speed skaters and their support staff. For Shruti, this will be her second appearance in the AWG after 2017, when the Asian meet was last held in Japan. 

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"This will be my second Asian Winter Games and I'm thrilled to compete again. Countries like South Korea, Japan, and China consistently produce strong skaters who are technically and physically exceptional. I've faced some of these competitors in previous events and understand their strengths. It's a tough field, but I see every race as an opportunity to push my limits and improve my own performance," said Shruti in an interview with SAI Media.

Shruti Kotwal is currently training at the Utah Olympic Oval in the US. Training at this indoor speed skating centre, which was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics, has played a major role in Shruti's career.

"Training in the US, especially at facilities like the Utah Olympic Oval, has been a game-changer. The exposure to world-class coaches, advanced training methodologies, and access to one of the fastest ice tracks in the world has significantly improved my technique, endurance, and speed. 

"Competing with and observing some of the best skaters here has