Kashmiri alpine skier Mohammad Arif Khan has qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Beijing from 4 February, becoming the first Indian athlete to earn a quota place in the slalom event in alpine skiing.
The 30-year-old, who hails from the Tangmarg area in Baramulla district, has represented the country four times in the World Championships.
He started skiing competitively when he was 10, and achieved greater heights in the following years. At the age of 12, he won a gold medal in the slalom in his maiden appearance at the national championship. He then made his international debut for India at the age of 16 and took part in a junior international ski federation event in Japan where he finished 23rd in the giant slalom.
At the South Asian Winter Games In 2011, Arif won two gold medals, in both, the slalom and giant slalom.
"Where there's a will, there's a way!, If I can achieve something, the global skiing community will take note of where I am from. It might make them see India as a potential top skiing destination," he told The Hindu.
Veteran skier Arif secured his place in the Games via the qualifying alpine skiing event in Dubai.
According to reports, he is the only ski racer from India who qualified for Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 till now. Himanshu Thakur and Aanchal Thakur are the other Indian ski racers who are trying to qualify for the mega-event.
(With Inputs from Olympics.com and IANS)
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