Roller sports: A start to finish race for shot at glory

The sport is making its re-entry in the Games after its debut in Guangzhou 2010.

World championship gold medalist (in-line freestyle) Anup Kumar Yama with Asian medalist (figure skating) Praneeta M at an exhibition event.

If you have wheels attached to your feet and are moving on your own steam, you are probably playing a roller sport. The sport has undergone significant evolution over the years, including forming a hybrid with other sports.

The Jakarta-Palembang Games will see roller sports making its re-entry after its debut at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. That year, Chinese Taipei took home the most medals with nine, while India claimed two bronze medals in artistic skating.

Roller sports at 2018 Asiad will comprise two events – roller skating and skateboarding. The first is a straight start-to-finish road race over 20km on rollerblades on a 380m circuit. India will participate in only the roller skating event, with two entrants each in the men’s and women’s categories.

Each country is allowed a maximum of two entrants. The elimination points in the 52-lap race will be announced a day prior. Only the last eight racers after the elimination point will contest for the medals.

Skateboarding, introduced for the first time at the Games, will consist of two disciplines – street and park. The skateboarders will have to showcase their tricks in three 45-second runs over three stages to be eligible for the medals. The athletes will be judged on three criteria: difficulty, consistency, and line and style.