Shruti Kotwal will be making her second Asian Winter Games appearance at Harbin 2025, this February.
The speed skater is currently gearing up for the continental event in the United States and was a part of the Khelo India Winter Games in Ladakh, last year.
She believes that the tough field of Asian speed skaters at the marquee event will improvise her performance.
“This will be my second Asian Winter Games and I’m thrilled to compete again. Countries like the Republic of Korea, Japan and China consistently produce strong skaters who are technically and physically exceptional,” the 33-year-old from Pune told SAI Media.
“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,” Shruti added.
And that could set her on the way to Winter Olympics.
Thanks to the self-funded training at the facility in Utah, her technical abilities have been refined while learning alongside some of the best skaters in the world.
“Training in the USA, 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 pushed me to refine my skills and understand the finer details of the sport. The environment has been incredibly motivating and challenging, which has accelerated my progress,” said Shruti Kotwal.
The Punekar could be well on to her way to the Milano Cortina 2026 if she improvises her National Record by over a minute in the 500m event.
“I’m focusing on the 500m and 1000m events for Olympic qualification. The timing requirements are incredibly challenging — sub-40 seconds for the 500m and under 1:20 for the 1000m. My Indian national record is 41.97 seconds and I need to skate under 40 seconds to qualify,” said Shruti.
Earlier, she had competed in the World Cup qualifiers and America Cup, without the help of any support staff.
“I manage everything – from planning my training to handling travel arrangements – on my own,” she said.
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