Arif Khan is India’s sole athlete participating in the Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing, China. The skier will particpate in the alpine skiing slalom and the giant slalom event at the Games. He is the first from the country to qualify for two events in the Winter Olympics. 

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Khan hails from Gulmarg, Kashmir. The 31-year-old, during an interview with WION had said that participating in the Winter Games is a ‘very inspiring and motivational moment for me’. 

“I will be going for the Olympics and representing 1.4 billion people,” he said.

He started skiing in 1994. Khan trained across Europe and since 2008. 

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” I have participated in world championships and international level games, Asian games and other continental championships. After more than 127 international participations, I have realised that I could be one of the best athletes in the world, ” Khan told WION. 

Arif Khan further added that he is ‘happy with the support that the government has provided me’. 

“I always thought we needed someone to create the path to achieve something big and I feel very good to be one of them and I would give my best performance. I have a dream to win a medal and would try my best to perform on the slopes.”

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Khan’s main inspiration is his father Yaseen. The duo used to  ski on the slopes of Apharwat and it was then he took interest in the sport. The skier participated at national level events at age 12. 

He has since 2005 represented India in several world championships. The 31-year-old has participated in about 127 events across the globe, in countries like the USA, Japan, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Lebanon, and Austria. 

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Khan made his international debut at a junior international ski federation event (FIS) in Yomase, Japan, where he finished at the 23rd position. He won two gold medals in the slalom and giant slalom events at the South Asian Winter Games in 2011.

Arif Khan in 2013 finished at number 59 and number 91 at the giant slalom event in the 2013 world skiing championship. He came 45th in the giant slalom event held at the world championship in Italy in 2021.