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Roller Skating – A Sport

All over the world, Roller skating is pursued both as a competitive sport and as a recreational activity, encompassing skaters from the tender age of four to the evergreen age of seventy five and beyond. Similar to swimming, roller skating is acknowledged for its distinctive ability in building and maintaining body fitness.


Roller skating as a sport has three disciplines viz. Speed Skating, Artistic Skating and Roller Hockey . In each of these disciplines, tournaments are held at various levels, namely,


Roller Skating has now been included in the Asian Games and will be played for the first time at the Asian Games to be held in China in 2010.

In India, Roller Skating is recognised as a sport by the Indian Olympic Association and the Government of India.


Organisational Hierarchy

At the world level, skating is monitored and promoted by the Federation International De Roller Sports (FIRS) and at the Asian level, the same is overseen by the Confederation of Asian Roller Sports (CARS). Both these International bodies give recognition/affiliation to a National Federation in each country.


Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI) is the national body in India, recognised by both the above mentioned International organizations . RSFI is also recognised by the Indian Olympic Association and the Government of India. RSFI has affiliated State Associations in each state to promote and monitor regular Skating activities of that state. Skating Association of Maharashtra (SAM) is the State Association for the state of Maharashtra, affiliated to RSFI, which oversees the skating activities in Maharashtra.

SAM – Affiliation And Recognitions

SAM is a society, registered under the Society’s Act 1860 and Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 with the main objective of promoting skating activities in Maharashtra. It is also recognised by the Maharashtra Olympic Association and the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra. It is pertinent to mention that prior to the setting up of SAM in the year 2000, skating in Maharashtra was monitored by the founder of SAM, namely, Maharashtra Roller Skating Association. Roller skating has been prevalent in Maharashtra for the last twenty five years, bearing testimony to the popularity of the sport .


SAM is affiliated to the Roller Skating Federation of India at the national level. It is also recognised by the Maharashtra Olympics Association and the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra.


 

Activities And Achievments

Presently SAM promotes roller skating activities through its affiliated/recognised District Level Associations in twenty eight Districts of Maharashtra. The vast and far-flung network of various affiliated Clubs of the twenty eight districts in Maharashtra, has facilitated more than 10’000 children to actively participate in competitive Roller Skating.


It is indeed a matter of pride, that over the years, SAM has produced various National & International level winners. Some of the international level winners from Maharashtra are Monish Lokhandwala, Nikhil Parikh, Natasha Shah, Tanmay Shah and Akash Khatri. Further, coaches such as Ms. Adesh Singh and Ms. Meghana Juvekar are qualified as international judges. Ms. Smita Sheth judges at international events. Ms. Ashmi Parekh, a member of the executive committee of SAM, has been recently elected as the Vice-President of CARS (Confederation of Asian Roller Sports).


As one of the main functions, SAM monitors District Level Championships held every year for selecting participants for State Championship. SAM also holds yearly State Championship from where selected skaters represent Maharashtra at the National Championship. Apart from the above, SAM conducts championships cum selection trials for the state of Maharashtra on behalf of the Director of Sports and Youth Services for selecting skaters to represent the state at the School Games Federation’s National Championship.

SAM periodically conducts clinics and training seminars for Coaches and Referees to keep them abreast of the latest developments in the sport. Further, training camps are organised at periodic intervals to better the skaters’ performances at National and International levels.