New Delhi: Skier Arif Khan, the only athlete representing India at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, reached Beijing today along with Chef De Mission Harjinder Singh and support staff.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra wished the contingent luck before its departure for the Games on Monday.
The Indian team will return on February 19, Batra said.
Besides Chef De Mission, Khan is accompanied by his Coasch Luddar Thakur and team leader, Abass Wani, President, Winter Games Association of J&K and former MLA Gulmarg.
Hailing from Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg, Khan will take part in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events in Beijing. His events are scheduled to take place on February 13 and 16.
The 31-year-old Khan had previously competed at the 2017 Asian Winter Games held in Sapporo.
The IOA had appointed the Ice Hockey Association of India’s general secretary, Harjinder, as the Chef de Mission of the country’s contingent for the Winter Olympics last December.
The skier, who was included in the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) recently, also said that his performances have improved and his training in Santa Catarina “was helpful”.
As far as his expectations from the Games are concerned, he said recently, “I have been training over a couple of years seriously and my expectation is to be in the world’s top 30. To be in the top 30 is like medal winners in the world.”
Skiing since his childhood, Arif Khan has previously also participated in international championships.
