Tag Archives: Skiers of India

J&K skier Arif Khan qualifies for 2 events in 2022 Winter Olympics

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Tangmarg, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

Khan achieved the rare feat recently by qualifying for the his second event — giant slalom — a month after booking his first Winter Olympics ticket in alpine skiing slalom category in an Olympic qualifier in Dubai.

Alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan. (Twitter/jswsports)

Jammu and Kashmir-based alpine skier Arif Mohammed Khan has become the first Indian athlete to qualify for two different events of the Winter Olympics, set to be held in Beijing from February 4, next year.

Khan achieved the rare feat recently by qualifying for his second event — giant slalom — a month after booking his first Winter Olympics ticket in alpine skiing slalom category in an Olympic qualifier in Dubai.

The news was confirmed by his promoter JSW Sports.

JSW-supported Alpine skier Arif Khan, who had earlier earned a provisional quota for the Slalom event at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has now qualified for the Giant Slalom event as well. ??#BetterEveryday ???? #Beijing2022 pic.twitter.com/Ua6EfIRJ65

— JSW Sports (@jswsports) December 29, 2021

“JSW-supported Alpine skier Arif Khan who had earlier earned a provisional quota for the slalom event at the 2022 Winter Olympics, has now qualified for the giant slalom event as well.

“For the first time in history, an Indian will be competing in two different events at the Winter Olympics,” JSW Sports wrote in a facebook post on Wednesday night.

While India was represented by two athletes — Jagdish Singh (cross country skiing) and Shiva Keshavan (luge) — in the 2018 Winter Games, Khan is the only person to have qualified for the 2022 Winter Games so far.

Khan is a professional alpine skier from north Kashmir’s Tangmarg and has qualified for giant slalom event at Kolasin, Montenegro recently. He has represented India in more than 100 ski events held across the world and has been undergoing training in Europe for the most part of this year.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports / December 30th, 2021

Jammu and Kashmir’s alpine skier Arif becomes first Indian to win 2022 Winter Games quota

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Tangmarg (Baramulla District), JAMMU & KASHMIR :

The 31-year-old Arif, who hails from Tangmarg of Baramulla district (Jammu & Kashmir), achieved the qualification in the final FIS Qualification being held in Dubai.

Alpine skier Arif Mohammad Khan

Chennai : 

Arif Mohammad Khan on Saturday became the first alpine skier from the country to win a quota for the Winter Olympics by accumulating requisite FIS (International Ski Federation) points.

The 31-year-old Arif, who hails from Tangmarg of Baramulla district (Jammu & Kashmir), achieved the qualification in the final FIS Qualification being held in Dubai. The 2022 Games is scheduled to be held in Beijing in February.

Father Mohammad Yasin Khan was Arif’s first coach. Yasin used to guide mountain tracking expeditions and teach the basics of skiing in Gulmarg. “Arif took up skiing at the age of three and quickly learnt the basics. It’s good that the efforts he had put in in all these years have eventually paid dividends,” said an elated father.

As per the FIS, a skier has to accumulate minimum qualifying points to confirm the Winter Games spot. According to www.olympics.com, in order to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in the slalom, the average of five best results in the event between the period of July 1, 2019, to January 16, 2022, is considered. For alpine skiers who have competed in less than five events during this period, an extra 20 per cent of average points are added to the International FIS points list.

The four slalom races in Dubai over the past week were the only events Arif has taken part in during the qualifying period.

“It’s a proud moment as earlier the Winter Games Federation of India used to organise trials to pick the teams including the skiers. Arif has become the first alpine skier from the country to secure qualification by earning FIS points,” Rauf Tramboo, member of Winter Games Association of Jammu & Kashmir, told this daily.

Alpine skiing comprises events like downhill, super G, slalom, giant slalom and combined.

Arif will now head to Italy from Dubai to compete in an international event. “Some international event is there. It will be great preparation for him ahead of the Games. He is unlikely to return to the country before the Games,” signed off Rauf.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport> Others / by Firoz Mirza, Express News Service / November 20th, 2021