Visakhapatnam, January 21, 2025:

Dontara Greeshma, an accomplished international artistic skater from Visakhapatnam, has been awarded the prestigious “Raksha Mantri Commendation Card” by India’s Defence Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh Ji. The ceremony took place on January 20, 2025, recognizing Greeshma as one of only five distinguished recipients across the nation for her unparalleled contributions to sports.

Currently a Class XI student at Visakha Valley School and an active NCC cadet with the Andhra Pradesh & Telangana Directorate, Greeshma emerged from a highly competitive selection process involving over 17 lakh NCC cadets. Her stellar performance in artistic skating and her dedication to representing India on the international stage earned her this esteemed recognition.

Greeshma’s illustrious career highlights include representing India at the 2022–23 Asian Games held in China, where she secured an impressive 6th position. In 2023, she further showcased her dominance by winning a gold medal and two silver medals at the Asian Roller Skating Championship. Having begun her skating journey at the tender age of four, she has amassed an incredible 134 medals across international, national, state, and district levels.

Expressing their pride and gratitude, Greeshma’s parents credited her success to her dedicated coaches, P. Satyanarayana (Team India Coach) and T. Chitti Babu (Team Andhra Pradesh Coach), along with the unwavering support of the Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI), Andhra Pradesh Roller Skating Association (APRSA), Visakhapatnam District Roller Skating Association (VDRSA), and her school, Visakha Valley School.

This commendation not only acknowledges Greeshma’s talent and hard work but also underscores the rising prominence of sports like artistic skating in India. Her achievements serve as an inspiration for the youth, encouraging them to excel in sports and represent the nation on global platforms.