It still feels like a dream for Arif Khan as his extraordinary journey approaches its final destination.
The 31-year-old alpine skier from Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is the talk of the town after qualifying for two events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which starts on February 4.
Arif's dream became a reality on December 29 when he secured his spot in the men’s giant slalom at Kolasin, Montenegro. A month earlier, he had secured a slalom quota in Alpine skiing for the Beijing Games.
“Absolutely, it makes me happy to make it to the Olympics. I am overwhelmed, but there is a long way to go ahead,” Arif told The National.
He developed a passion for skiing at the age of four, during a childhood spent in the rugged mountains. But that does not mean his skills have come easy: Arif spends at least seven hours a day in sub-zero temperatures.
After starting at 5am, Arif kicks off with a four-hour skiing session followed by dry-land exercise for about 100 minutes before engaging in video analysis for close to an hour. He then goes on to prepare his equipment for the next day before hitting the hay.
It has become his habit as he looks for every advantage ahead of his maiden Winter Olympics.
“I have been doing this for so long now and I religiously follow the practice,” he says.
Arif grew up in a region dominated by other sports before finding his niche in skiing. He spent many hours on gentle slopes for beginners before emerging as a top skier.
“I believe I was destined for it. I have been to Switzerland and the exposure had led to the new beginnings. In the European countries I have learnt a lot as an athlete,” he added.
The 31-year-old is supported by JSW Sports and has represented India in more than 45 countries since 2005, starting at the junior level.
In 2018, Arif set his sights on the Winter Olympics, earning the slalom quota in Alpine skiing after impressing at the Entry League (International Ski Federation) FIS event in Dubai in November 2021.
During that meet, Arif finished 11th twice, 9th and 10th in four slalom events.
Arif had to become an instructor to meet his funding requirements. Before the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics, he was 150,000 rupees short of the amount required for training. But instead of becoming dejected, Arif came back stronger.
“Arif has been incredible. I would count him among top-level athletes. He was not let down by obstacles. He was determined to move ahead and achieve what he had been dreaming about for a long time now,” Arif’s national teammate and friend, Waseem Ahmed Bhat, told The National.
Only three Indians had previously participated in two separate events at the Winter Games - Nanak Chand and Chuni Lala in 1992, and Neha Ahuja in 2006. While the three were given an invitation, Arif secured qualification outright.
In 2005, he participated in the 14th Asian Alpine Ski Championships in China and went on to represent India in 2006 at the age of 16 in Yomase, Japan, where he finished 23rd in giant slalom.
At the 2011 South Asian Winter Games, Arif returned home with two gold medals. Last year, he finished 45th at a giant slalom event in Italy to qualify for the final of a world championship for the first time.
“Things have been challenging and my aim was to always improve in every way,” Arif added.
Arif attributes his success to his father, Mohammad Yaseen Khan, who runs a tour company and ski equipment store at the hill station of Gulmarg.
“He looked after everything I required and this is where I am now. My family, especially my father, has backed me to live my dream.”
Yaseen is delighted to see his son excel: “I knew he was going to make us all proud. I did what I was bound to do as a father. He has always been special."
Arif has been living in Gulmarg, a famous tourist spot, to acclimatise to harsh conditions. He has also trained in minus 10 to 20°C conditions across Europe.
“Gulmarg has been my home. I loved to race there and it never fails to fascinate me,” Arif said, adding: “I am ready for the Olympic challenge, which will be held in similar conditions to where I am training at the moment.”
Arif is hopeful of putting on a good show in Beijing and has even postponed his wedding, as the “Olympics is on my mind, the wedding could be deferred. It’s an opportunity to relish for a lifetime".
His preparations for Beijing received a late but significant boost in the form of a grant of 1.7 million rupees from the Indian government to train in Europe and procure equipment. Arif believes India can have more top-level athletes in the next few years if the infrastructure is put in place.
“In five to 10 years' time, we could see athletes participating in major events across the globe, if the standard of infrastructure is enhanced. Potentially, Jammu and Kashmir has athletes who can bring laurels to the country,” Arif said.
For now, it's Arif who will be carrying the hopes of his people on the world stage.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
Veere di Wedding
Dir: Shashanka Ghosh
Starring: Kareena Kapoo-Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania
Verdict: 4 Stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Bantamweight
Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
(Split decision)
Featherweight
Hussein Salim (IRQ) beat Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
(Round 1 submission, armbar)
Catchweight 80kg
Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Otabek Kadirov (UZB)
(Round-1 submission, rear naked choke)
Lightweight
Ho Taek-oh (KOR) beat Ronald Girones (CUB)
(Round 3 submission, triangle choke)
Lightweight
Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) beat Damien Lapilus (FRA)
(Unanimous points)
Bantamweight
Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
(Round 1 TKO)
Featherweight
Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
(Round 1 rear naked choke)
Flyweight
Shannon Ross (TUR) beat Donovon Freelow (USA)
(Unanimous decision)
Lightweight
Dan Collins (GBR) beat Mohammad Yahya (UAE)
(Round 2 submission D’arce choke)
Catchweight 73kg
Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM) beat Islam Mamedov (RUS)
(Round 3 submission, kneebar)
Bantamweight world title
Xavier Alaoui (MAR) beat Jaures Dea (CAM)
(Unanimous points 48-46, 49-45, 49-45)
Flyweight world title
Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
(Round 1 RSC)
Emirates Cricket Board Women’s T10
ECB Hawks v ECB Falcons
Monday, April 6, 7.30pm, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
The match will be broadcast live on the My Sports Eye Facebook page
Hawks
Coach: Chaitrali Kalgutkar
Squad: Chaya Mughal (captain), Archara Supriya, Chamani Senevirathne, Chathurika Anand, Geethika Jyothis, Indhuja Nandakumar, Kashish Loungani, Khushi Sharma, Khushi Tanwar, Rinitha Rajith, Siddhi Pagarani, Siya Gokhale, Subha Srinivasan, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish
Falcons
Coach: Najeeb Amar
Squad: Kavisha Kumari (captain), Almaseera Jahangir, Annika Shivpuri, Archisha Mukherjee, Judit Cleetus, Ishani Senavirathne, Lavanya Keny, Mahika Gaur, Malavika Unnithan, Rishitha Rajith, Rithika Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Shashini Kaluarachchi, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Vaishnave Mahesh
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
