India cheers for Arif Khan, lone Indian athlete competing from JK in Winter Olympics

There is a reason for that kind of buzz in J&K and sports circle in particular as it isnot every day a single athlete from a remote part of Kashmir, represents 1.4billion Indians at the grandest stage of sports, Olympics. 

This time Arif Khan who hails from the Tangmarg area of District Baramulla inKashmir 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 firstever skier from India to have qualified for Olympics in both slalom and giantslalom. 

So when Arif Khan, the only one from India to compete in Winter Olympics 2022along with a small Indian contingent stepped out for the opening ceremony withthe tricolor in his hands it created a huge buzz on social media. Everyone from thecommon man to the top sportsperson was talking about the achievement. FromPoliticians to bureaucrats everyone was hailing Arif and was seen praising theirspecial achievement. 

Soon after the Opening Ceremony, Arif Khan said, thank you all for the support.“Finally Olympics. Thank you to all who supported me and believed in me. TodayIndia has received global attention as a winter sports destination and I feel greatbeing part of it. Thank you all and see you on the ski slopes in the next few days,”Arif Khan posted on his Facebook page with a photograph from OpeningCeremony. 

While being the inspiration for the whole Country, Arif is turning out as thebiggest inspiration and role model for J&K athletes who are not known as good inOlympic sports disciplines like Skiing. 

Over the years, barring a few Olympic disciplines, J&K athletes have been failingmiserably at National-level in A-grade Olympic events. 

J&K’s first-ever Olympian, Gul Mustafa Dev who represented India in WinterOlympics 1988 in Calgary, Canada is seeing Arif’s rise as a big boost for the Wintersport not only in Kashmir but across India. 

“Arif Khan is No.1 Skier in India and has been working hard over the years. He hasrepresented India in a number of World events and FIS races. He deserves all thepraise and attention,” Gul Mustafa said. 

“Being only one from Country to be in Olympics is in itself an achievement. Thereis huge excitement around and everyone I have spoken to is praising and talkingabout Arif. This lad from Kashmir has renewed buzz for Winter Sports not only inKashmir but also in the whole of India. I have been getting calls from my friendsfrom all over India, congratulating me for Arif’s feat,” he added. 

Before the opening ceremony, Neeraj Chopra who bagged a gold medal inSummer Olympics Tokyo 2020 for India, had sent a special message to Arif Khan. 

After the opening ceremony, another Olympic gold medallist from India, AbhinavBindra also posted a special message for Arif. 

“From Kashmir to the Olympics! Really proud to see Arif Khan, the only athleterepresenting India at Beijing 2022 carry the tricolor high!” said Bindra on Twitter.

Back home, apart from creating social media buzz with people sharing videos andphotographs from the opening ceremony, there is extra excitement among theyoung budding athletes.

“It is a proud moment for all of us and he is representing the whole country onthe biggest stage in Sports. For any athlete, it’s a dream to be in the Olympics andArif’s feat is going to inspire and motivate generations,” said Bilquis Mir who hasrepresented India in World Kayaking and Canoeing championship which is also anOlympic discipline. 

“Already there is excitement among our players with everyone talking about Arif.They want to emulate his achievement and want to work as hard as Arif hasworked. For the sports in J&K, Arif’s achievement is a much-needed boost,” shesaid. 

The Dronacharya Award-winning coach from J&K Kuldeep Handoo termed Arif’sfeat as exceptional that has no parallel in the recent history of J&K sports. 

“There are very few who have represented India in Olympics from J&K but to beonly one and flag bearer is the achievement that no one has matched ever.Everyone from Kashmir to Jammu is talking about Arif and his feat and how hehas achieved his dream,” Kuldeep Handoo said.

“This is a big boost for the sports in J&K and for the first time, everyone is talkingabout J&K talent across India rather than any unwanted debate. We have beencongratulated by one and all for Arif’s achievement and youngsters want to reachsimilar levels,” he said. 

Ski resort of Gulmarg, which is home turf for Arif on Friday evening was also abuzzwith excitement with everyone glued to television screens watching Arif in theOlympic opening ceremony.

“Gulmarg is always excited when there is Winter Olympics as everyone here whocomes for skiing is a winter game enthusiast. However, this time it is special asthe local guy is representing India in Olympics,” said Altaf Mir, a hotel manager inGulmarg.

“Our guests, as well as skiers, watched the opening ceremony together on Friday,so did skiers and guests in other hotels,” he added. 

Since the time Arif qualified for the Olympics, skiing has also got special attentionfrom the youngsters in Kashmir. 

“This year there is more enquiry from Kashmir locals for the skiing compared toprevious years. Our all courses are fully booked. More and more youngsters wantto learn to ski. We call it the Arif effect here in Gulmarg,” said Shabir Dar skiinginstructor in Gulmarg. 

“Arif has united one and all and there is not a single person across the Countrywho is not hailing him. He will be a special inspiration for our own athletes, forwhom he can act as a motivator to achieve greater heights in sports,” said SportsAdministrator Ranjeet Kalra from Jammu.Arif Khan would be participating in his events on February 13 and 16.