Digital Desk: Arif Khan, 31, who began skiing in Gulmarg, is the sole Indian to have qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, bringing glory to Kashmir and the country.
During the qualifying event in Dubai last year, he earned a spot in the Games.
After a 13-year journey that began in 2008, his quest to attend the Games comes to a close. Arif is also the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics in two distinct sports.
The 31-year-old from the Hajibal Tangmarg district has competed in four World Championships for Pakistan. Arif claims to have competed in 127 international skiing contests around the world.
"I had a dream that has come true. It's a great feeling for what I had been pursuing since years, what my father had dreamt for me has come true."
Before leaving for Beijing, Arif spent a few days in Gulmarg, seeking the blessings of the slopes and the people who had supported him over the years, both morally and financially, to help him achieve these heights.
On Saturday (January 29), Arif flew to Delhi, from whence he will travel to the Olympic Games venue.
Arif Khan stated, "It was not an easy task. I had struggled for years for this; I had started skiing in 1994 and had been in professional skiing since 2008."
He appreciated the government's efforts and said, "The government remained very supportive this time and it seems they are really wanting to promote the sports and they provided me all help."
Arif added, "I wish my place Gulmarg which is most beautiful place of world and have great potential for skiing should have attraction of the globe and I will give my best performance to make Gulmarg, Kashmir and India proud. I am representing 140 crore people and I will try my best not to let them down."
Arif has also competed in other state and national championships. The Kashmir-born international skier, on the other hand, aspires to earn a medal in the Olympic Games 2022, which will be hosted in Beijing, China next month.
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