Srinagar, Nov 20: Kashmir is on a high after noted Alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan qualified for Winter Olympics 2022 to be held in Beijing.
Hailing from Hajibal Tangmarg area, the 30-year-old has represented the country in World Championship four times.
“Yes secured the position for India in winter Olympics Beijing…I am in given my results and points. Final official confirmation comes out on January 17, 2022,” Arif told The Kashmir Monitor from Austria.
“Will keep training and competing in the upcoming events in Europe and Asia until the Olympics start in February,” he added.
Last time Arif had got 140 points from five slalom races for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang. He was on track after good performances in Turkey, Bulgaria, Norway, and Sweden.
Former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among the first people to congratulate Arif for making it to Winter Olympics.
“Congratulations Arif, well done for qualifying for #Beijing2022. We will all be rooting for you,” Omar tweeted.
Arif had a chance to compete in a race in Switzerland before the deadline. But, he needed Rs 1.5 lakh to get there. He had exhausted the money he had borrowed from friends and family.
There was neither Government backing nor private sponsorship for a hardly known sport in the country (there still isn’t). He could not go to Switzerland, and so he waited for four more years.–(Kashmir Monitor)
