Skateboarding in India

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Skateboarding in India
Brusco, Staab, Macdonald - Mumbai - 2011.jpg
Mitchie Brusco, Kevin Staab and Andy Macdonald at a skateboarding event in Mumbai in 2011
Governing body Roller Skating Federation of India (India Skate)
National competitions
Recognised National Championships are organised by RSFI. Registrations can be done on www.indiaskate.com

Skateboarding is a sport that is rapidly rising in mainstream popularity in India. [1] [2] [3]

Skateboarding is rising in popularity in all parts of India which includes Delhi, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast states.

Skateboarding was included in 36th National Games held in Gujarat. 12 Skateboarders took on the podium. Skateboarding was excluded in 37th national games Goa and it is being considered for 38th National games Uttarakhand

Results for 36th National Games 2022, Street and Park Skateboarding events:

At the age of 8 years, Zarah Ann Gladys from Kerala (Lives in Dubai) became the youngest female to represent India in an International event, She achieved this feat by playing at the World Skateboarding Tour 2023 (Paris Olympic Qualifier) in Ostia, Italy. [4]

At the age of 10 years Shivam Balhara from Delhi Became the youngest Male to represent India at an International event, He achieved this feat at the age of 10 years by representing India in Park world championships, Nanjing China in 2018.

Indian skateboarders have been participating in many major international sporting events but have been unable to qualify for Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Indian skateboarders will be trying to qualify for LA 2028 Olympics.

Indian Skateboarders who have represented India in world skate sanctioned international events are :

CountryEvent NameSkateboarder NameSkateboarder NameSkateboarder Name
ChinaPark World Championships Nanjing 2018ParkShivam BalharaArun KumarAsha Gond
BarcelonaWorld Roller Games Barcelona 2019StreetShivam BalharaMahin TandonShubham Surana
ChinaInternational Skateboarding open Street Championship, Henon, 2019StreetSagar WaghelaMahin Tandon
BrazilWST Park World  Championships, Sao Paulo 2019ParkArjun Madhav Rao
UAEWST Street World Championship, Sharjah 2022StreetShivam BalharaSatyam HangargekarShubham Surana
Urmila PabaleNani SonamShraddha Gaikwad
UAEWST Park World Championship, Sharjah 2022ParkShivam Balhara
ItalyWST Park World Championship Ostia 2023ParkShivam BalharaZarah ann Gladys
DubaiWST Park World Championship Dubai  2024ParkRishi ShewaniZarah ann Gladys
DubaiWST Street World Championship Dubai  2024StreetYashodhan Patil
ItalyWorld Skate Games Skateboarding Park, 2024 -OstiaParkHiteshwaranHanvesh penugodaDhruvi Lakhotia

India's first rural skate park, Janwaar Castle, in Janwaar village in Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh, teaches children to skate. [5] [6] It is free of charge for village children, with the only condition that the children must attend school. The children respect girls and help to bridge caste differences.

In September 2023, Chandigarh skatepark was opened to the public. It is located next to the football turf in Tiranga Urban Park, across the Sector 17 market plaza. It spans a whopping 44,000 square feet, currently the biggest of its kind in the country. [7]

References

  1. Jamooji, Shireen (8 June 2021). "Highlight Reel: The Evolution Of Skate Culture In India". Homegrown. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. Paitandy, Priyadarshini (28 January 2023). "Since its recent inception in the Olympics, skateboarding is having a moment in India. Have you stepped on the board yet?". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  3. "The Established: Style, Self, Culture, Community - Voice of a new generation". www.theestablished.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  4. "Zarah Ann Gladys of India youngest competitor at World Skateboarding Tour 2024 in Dubai" . Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. "No School, No Skateboarding: India's First Rural Skate Park". Hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. "HISTORY TV18 | Skateboarding Village". HISTORY TV18. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  7. "How skateboarding is growing big in Chandigarh". The Tribune. Jul 23, 2025. Retrieved 9 Sep 2025.

Further reading