Indian figure skater Tara Prasad has officially announced her withdrawal from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics qualifying event, which is set to kick off in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, on Thursday. The 25-year-old athlete made the decision due to a significant back injury, marking a setback in her Olympic ambitions.
Tara Prasad revealed her decision through an emotional post on Instagram, saying, “It was a difficult decision but I have withdrawn from the Olympic qualifying event. I was looking forward to showing my improvement in skating regardless of the result, but I had a major setback this year with back pain.” Her withdrawal comes as she misses a crucial opportunity to secure a place in the individual figure skating events at the upcoming Games.
The qualifying event, running from September 18 to 21, offers a total of 17 quotas for the Olympics, with five slots each for men’s and women’s singles, three for the doubles event, and four for ice dance. Tara Prasad expressed her concern for her long-term skating career, emphasizing the importance of listening to her body. “At the stage of recovery I am at as well as the nature of the injury, I have decided with my coaches and health professionals to withdraw so that I can skate safely in the future,” she stated.
Despite this unexpected hurdle, Tara remains optimistic about her return to the ice. “Thank you to my federation for all the opportunities that I have been given and I will recover and be back soon. Things happen in life but we will stay positive!” she conveyed.
Tara Prasad’s impressive track record includes an eighth-place finish in the women’s figure skating event at the Asian Winter Games earlier this year, coupled with being a three-time national champion. Additionally, she secured silver medals at prestigious competitions such as the Reykjavík International Games in Iceland and the Skate Celje in Slovenia last year.
As fans support her during this challenging time, all eyes will be on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy, where the hope remains for Tara Prasad’s triumphant return.
