As Kashmir’s alpine skier, Arif Khan lead the Indian contingent in Winter Olympics 2022 inside Beijing National Stadium on Friday carrying the Indian tricolor, there were jubilations in J&K with over 1.4 billion Indians praying for the success of a lone athlete from India competing in the global competition.
There is a reason for that kind of buzz in J&K and sports circle in particular as it is not every day a single athlete from a remote part of Kashmir, represents 1.4 billion Indians at the grandest stage of sports, Olympics.
This time Arif Khan who hails from the Tangmarg area of District Baramulla in Kashmir is the only one from India to have qualified for the Winter Olympics. He qualified in the slalom and giant slalom categories of Alpine skiing. Arif is the first-ever skier from India to have qualified for Olympics in both slalom and giant slalom.
Proud moment for India! Arif Khan from Indian Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir representing 🇮🇳 at #Beijing2022WinterOlympics opening ceremony. Arif is an Alpine skier from Kashmir who will contest in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. From Kashmir to Olympics! pic.twitter.com/UJxBH0lI3h
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 4, 2022