The best time for any sport is defined by the emerging champions rising from their native places – first on the national and then at the international level. Such star players are passionate about the sport they pursue, and work hard at it to rise, come what may, many a time!
The formula to achieve their goal may seem overtly simple, but is quite difficult to attain. And, that is “doing something extra” in addition to what is being taught by their coach or mentor.
In 2025, in such a scenario, Chennai saw the emergence of three highly talented sportspersons – one man and two women. First is Chennai’s speedskater Anandkumar Velkumar, who bagged two gold medals at the World Cup championships in Beidehe, China in September 2025. He excelled in this growing sport which is gradually attracting the youth in good numbers. Anandkumar is a student of Anna University, Guindy in Chennai.
In November, Anupama Ramachandran, a 23 year-old exceptional talent in the green baize sport of snooker, which has a great tradition in this part of the country, brought laurels to Tamil Nadu and India. Speaking to Madras Musings about her achievement she says: “I started playing snooker at a summer camp just before I went to 7th standard in school. I did not expect to continue it beyond the summer, nor did I immediately start playing the game on a serious level. I happened to play in a state championship in which I stood second in the Sub-junior category. That was when I got more serious and started my training.”
World Snooker Champ Anupama.
She observes that the sport has changed a lot since she started playing. There are more girls taking it up following its recognition by the Tamil Nadu government. She also points out that any big achievement in the green baize sports can now help with college admissions, getting scholarships and securing government jobs.
Anupama completed her schooling at Vidya Mandir, Mylapore, and is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Public Policy at MOP Vaishnav College for women at Nungambakkam in Chennai city. “Both the institutions have been very supportive of my pursuit of snooker, especially MOP where I got the time to practise and do my best in every tournament,” she explains.
The rise to fame of carrom talent Keerthana in the 2025 World Championship and winning the gold medal is rather moving. She took to the sport at a very young age. Hailing from a modest economic background, Keerthana the eldest of three siblings, was spotted as champion material by her coaches – multiple world and national champion Maria Irudayam and Chennai District Carrom Association Secretary Amudhavanan. “I have been playing carrom seriously for 13 years since I was introduced to the sport in my third standard. I am very happy that now I have won a gold medal in the world championships,” she exults talking to Madras Musings.
Carrom World Gold winner Keerthana.
Substantial financial support from the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the state Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Udayanidhi Stalin (1.5 lakh rupees) and also from KP Sankar, a businessman in Tirupattur (50,000 rupees) enabled Keerthana to participate and prepare for the world championship. “I have also won medals in national and state level competitions,” informs Keerthana who was forced to seek employment in a steel factory when her father passed away due to ill health in 2017. She almost gave up playing carrom competitively at that time as she was in emotional distress. But after her coach Amudhavanan managed to persuade and successfully motivated her, Keerthana started picking up the nuances again, playing in a state championship and winning.
There was more to come – in addition to the honour brought to Chennai’s rich sporting scene by these three young talents in 2025, there was a bonus too! Another youngster, celebrated for his immense talent in chess, R Pragnananda qualified for the prestigious Candidates tournament that determines the Challenger to the reigning world champion in this mind sport. Pragnananda joined three Indian women to represent the country in that tournament, one of them being his elder sister R Vaishali.