Harbin, China, July 27, 2026: Indian short track speed skater Aarav Patwardhan has learned a lot at the OCA-ISU Asian Short Track Speed Skating Youth Camp in Harbin, China.
In particular he learned that success cannot be judged by medals alone, as he explained during his speech at the closing ceremony of the youth camp on behalf of the 35 athletes from 14 National Olympic Committees.
“Every day we learned something new. We improved our skating skills, learned better techniques and challenged ourselves to become stronger athletes,” he said.
“But I think the biggest lesson was that success is not only about winning races. It is also about working hard, respecting others, supporting your teammates and never giving up.”
He described the youth camp as “an amazing opportunity” for the young athletes and spoke of the atmosphere among the participants.
“When I first arrived, I was excited but also a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect or who I would meet,” he said. “But, after just a few days, this camp felt like one big family.”
Aarav thanked the OCA and International Skating Union for organising the camp, as well as the coaching instructors led by Chun Jae-su.
“Thank you for believing in us, encouraging us every day and patiently teaching us. Your words, your advice and even your smiles gave us confidence to push ourselves and become better.
“When we go back home, we will not only take back new skills but also wonderful memories, new friendships and the motivation to keep chasing our dreams. We will continue to train hard and make our coaches, our families and our countries proud.
“Thank you for believing in young skaters like us and for helping us grow, both as athletes and as people,” he concluded.
Speaking on behalf of the 14 coaches from Asia’s NOCs, Kuwait’s Abdullah Al Shaati said: “It has been a great privilege to be part of this camp and to work alongside talented young athletes and dedicated coaches from across Asia.
“Throughout this camp, we have witnessed not only the athletes’ improvement in technical skills but also their growth in confidence, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship.”
Addressing the team of instructors, Abdullah added: “Your passion, patience and commitment to sharing your knowledge have inspired every participant. The guidance, encouragement and experience you have provided will have a lasting impact on both the athletes and fellow coaches.
“As coaches, we will return home with new ideas, valuable experiences and renewed motivation to continue developing the next generation of short track speed skaters. We will share what we have learned with our athletes and continue building the sport in our respective countries.”
The short track speed skating youth camp ran from July 20-26 and will be followed by the OCA-ISU Asian Figure Skating Youth Camp from July 28-August 3.
