Mizoram skater’s international debut stalled by lack of funds

After spending most of his life skating on the broken mountain roads of Mizoram, 25-year-old freestyle skater Kima is now appealing for support to compete on the international stage, where he has already made history as India’s first and only athlete to be ranked at an international freestyle skating competition.

Kima, who recently secured a third-place international ranking, has put India on the global freestyle skating map—a feat never achieved before, as the country has had no prior representation in international freestyle skating championships.

Growing up in Mizoram, Kima trained without access to skateparks, professional coaching, or sponsorships. The steep, damaged roads of the hill state became his training ground, where he taught himself complex freestyle techniques through online videos, relentless practice, and endurance.

Kima has received an official invitation to compete at the International Freestyle Skating Championships in Germany in 2026, marking his sixth international invitation.

He has previously been invited to represent India at competitions in Germany, Japan, and Canada, but was unable to attend on five occasions due to financial constraints, particularly the inability to meet visa-related proof-of-funds requirements.

Despite the repeated setbacks, Kima has continued to excel domestically and digitally.

He is a two-time consecutive champion of ‘Jugaad’, India’s most prestigious international skating competition, and consistently ranks among the top performers in global online freestyle events.

With international organizers and fellow skaters offering on-ground logistical support in Germany, Kima is now publicly appealing for financial assistance to cover competition-related expenses.

At 25, widely considered the peak age for freestyle skating, Kima’s situation highlights a broader challenge faced by athletes from underserved regions, where economic limitations often determine access to international platforms.

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