Oman Pride: Indian girl who represented Oman in Ice Skating championship in Hong Kong and got six medals

Oman Pride: Indian girl who represented Oman in Ice Skating championship in Hong Kong and got six medals
Photos supplied
MOBIN MATHEWBLESSON
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Muscat: For Aadnya Borkar, an Indian figure skater currently living and practicing in Oman,ice skating is a passion and she is a genius in the sport of figure skating.
The Times of Oman (TOO) is featuring the very special talent of Aadnya today as part of its #OmanPride campaign.
It is ironical that a girl, who has been brought up in a desert country such as Oman,which is full of dry mountains, is aspiring to compete at the highest level in a sport such as ice skating.
“I started skating at the age of 11, when my parents first took me ice skating at the ice rink inAl Khuwair, which is no longer located there and has moved elsewhere,” Aadnya told the Times of Oman.
For Aadnya it was all fun in the initial stages.
“I could barely maintain my balance, leave alone skate,while on Ice. My parents saw the spark in me, spotted the talent and decided to get me professional training,” she said.
“I love ice skating.It is a fun sport and a good way to exercise. I was so excited to learn something new. I kept advancing through the ISI (Ice Skating Institute) levels,” added Aadnya.
Aadnya, a former student of the Indian School Wadi Kabir, represented Oman at the International Figure Skating Competition in Hong Kong and secured sixgold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal for Oman.
United States of America (USA), Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia, apart from Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Sultanate were the participants in the competition.
“There was no looking back since then.I had the opportunity to represent Oman, India and my state Maharashtra at various competitions across the world,” said Aadnya.
“I have lived most of my life in Oman and this country has given me so much, I had the opportunity to make Oman proud and hold its flag high too,” she added.
Aadnya was coached by Michael Fernandes.
Besides ice skating, she was a good athlete at school and was a part of the school athletic team. She had won many medals and trophies in events like 4x100 relay, long jump, 100 metre and 400 metre sprints.
Aadnya also has a second-Dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and is a good swimmer too.
"Karate has helped my figure skating as it has increased my stamina," she says, and addedthat she is realistic about her dream.
According to her,ice skating is an expensive sport.
“What I am today is all because of my father, Ashok and mother Aakanksha. Their encouragement, financial, moral support, and blessings have helped me become who I am today,” said Aadnya.
“It islovely to have child to carry your name forward, especially when she is a daughter, and our daughter has given us enormous pleasure and family life,” Aadnya’s father Ashok Borkar told the Times of Oman.
“A father’s interest, praise and approval can spur his daughter on to greater achievements. That is exactly what I have done.I have set up a platform for our daughter to excel in a unique sport of ice skating (figure skating), and we are blessed to have talented child such as Aadnya.We thank the almighty for showering on us his blessings in the form of Aadnya. She has not only made us proud parents but also made Oman proud.This is her second home where she has grownup and nurtured her skills from childhood,” he added.
Ice skating is an exclusive sport and Aadnya always wanted to make a mark in a sport such as this, and put her country on the World Figure Skating map.