From the snow-clad turfs of Gulmarg to the alpines of China, Mohammad Arif Khan has come a long way. He was the sole representative for India at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. By finishing 45th in the men’s giant slalom, he made a mark in a sport that has attracted few eyeballs in India. Khan finished his first ski-run, recording a time of 1:22:35. He was at the 53rd spot in the first session. During his second run, the weather became turbulent. Despite the snow and winds, he completed his second run, clocking in at 1:24:89. His overall time placed him 37.89 seconds behind the race winner, the Swiss skier Marco Odermatt, placing him 45th in the tally. “It’s one of my dreams to be at the Winter Olympics, and this is my first time. It really means a lot,” he had told the Olympics.com. However, at the slalom event held days later at the Games, Khan could not finish, thereby concluding India’s campaign in Beijing. Aged 32, Arif Khan hails from the town of Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir. He took to skiing at the tender age of four and was already competing by ten. He was drawn to the sport very early because of his father, Yasin Khan, who runs a ski equipment shop in Gulmarg, according to reports. It was his father who began funding his journey into the competitive world of skiing. Khan has inspired many in India to look at skiing as a viable competitive sport. Winter sports in India still have a long way to go in terms of assistance from official sports associations, forcing athletes to spend money from their own pockets. Today, the Auli slopes in Uttarakhand are the only slopes in the country authorised for international events by the International Ski Federation (FIS). There are other slopes in Gulmarg, Solang, Narkanda, Lahaul, and Pehlagaum awaiting due recognition. In conversation with News 18, Arif said, “The government needs to provide professional equipment and training to Indian athletes with proper financial support, then we will have the top-quality sportsmen and women in the country.” Skiing is, in essence, an expensive sport where the equipment costs can go up to 5 lakhs, and the training costs could add to the burden. To assist skiers, athletes require funding. “It’s always difficult to raise funds for the sport in a country where it’s not a priority among people,” Khan pointed out. However, the performance in Beijing has attracted attention. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijju, has said that Gulmarg will become an international destination for Winter Games in the future. The Indian Army also felicitated Arif Khan for his performance in Baramulla on 26 February. “I feel so happy that the Indian Army organised this event. This event has a clear intention, and that is to support us and also inspire other athletes,” Khan told ANI. With his laudable performance, Arif has indeed become an inspiration for many and the most recent face of Winter Sports in India.
10 Apr 2022
Pranjal Nangare
