Shreyasi Joshi Wins India’s First Medal at Lishui Inline Freestyle International in China

India’s inline freestyle skating has a new milestone to celebrate.Shreyasi Joshi has become the first Indian to win a medal at the prestigious Lishui Inline Freestyle International in China, securing bronze in the Senior Women’s Classic Slalom. The podium finish adds another international achievement to the Pune skater’s growing résumé and further establishes her as one of India’s leading names in inline freestyle skating.A Skater Since She Was ThreeBorn in Pune, Maharashtra, Shreyasi began skating alongside her sister Swarali when she was just three years old. The sisters quickly showed promise, winning medals at national competitions from a young age. As Shreyasi progressed, she developed a particular strength in technically demanding disciplines such as speed slalom and classic slalom, where precision, balance, agility and control are crucial.She eventually moved from age-group competitions to the senior circuit, taking on some of the country’s best skaters. At the 59th National Roller Skating Championship in Mohali in 2021, she swept the senior girls’ events, winning gold in both Speed Slalom and Classic Slalom. Her Classic Slalom performance earned an impressive score of 83.33.Her consistency continued at the 62nd National Roller Skating Championship in Bengaluru in 2024, where she and Jinesh Nanal became the only Indian skaters to win gold in both Speed Slalom and Classic Slalom.Double Gold on the Asian StageShreyasi had already announced herself internationally with a stunning performance at the Asian Roller Skating Championships 2025 in South Korea.She won gold in Inline Freestyle—Classic Slalom, becoming the first Indian to claim the title in the discipline at the Asian Championships. She followed it up with another gold in Battle Slalom, completing a remarkable double. That breakthrough made her one of the faces of India’s emerging roller-sports movement.From a Young Talent to a History-MakerShreyasi’s international journey began early. At just 12 years old, she represented India at the 2017 World Roller Games in Nanjing, China, competing in freestyle slalom and speed slalom. She later emerged as one of seven Pune skaters to qualify for India’s trials for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Now, her bronze in Lishui adds another first to her remarkable journey.From a little girl discovering skating at three to an international medallist, Shreyasi is showing how years of practice, precision and persistence can take an Indian athlete onto the global podium.