Srinagar: After Arif Khan’s participation in Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, two more Kashmiri ski athletes Ayan Tariq Zargar from Baramulla and Waseem Ahmad Bhat from Tangmarg are going to represent India in 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be held at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon.
The Asian Alpine Ski Championship is being hosted by the Lebanese Ski Federation for men and women, at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian from 23 to 27 February.
This championship is an elite alpine skiing contest organized by the Asian Ski Federation, hosting competitors from Asian countries, including Lebanon, China, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Hong Kong.
Young Alpine Skier Ayan Tariq has played three nationals and has won two silvers – one silver in Slalom and one silver in giant slalom respectively and wants to push the envelope even further in future.
“This year, I qualified for the junior nationals held in India’s premier ski resort destination Auli Uttarakhand from 7 to 9 February. Now, I will be representing India in the under-21 category in the 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be hosted at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon,” said Ayan.
“I am feeling very proud and am extremely happy that I am going to represent my country in Asian championship after a lot of hard work. I am hopeful that this platform will give me a chance to prove my talent,” he said.
Ayan is a son of senior ski instructor Tariq Ahmad Zargar who has worked as an instructor and trainer in Indian Institute of Skiing in Gulmarg.
“At the age of four, my father took me to Gulmarg to acquaint me with skiing and since then there is no looking back. I dream to represent my country at the Winter Olympics,” said Ayan.
Waseem Bhat from Mullabangil Tangmarg known as ‘Tiger’ of skiing started his skiing journey at the world’s famous skiing destination Gulmarg with the elder ski champs of Gulmarg
Bhat has played seven nationals. In 2014, he got selected for the Indian Ski team. He is also registered with the FIS, an international skiing organization.
Secretary General Ski and Snowboard India Roop Chand Negi in the letter to the athletes declared that Ayaan Tariq and Waseem Bhat are going to take part in 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be hosted at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon.
This will be the first time that a championship of this level is held in Lebanon for both men and women. Lebanon had previously organized five times the skiing championship for Junior and Children, in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2016, and 2017 with Lebanon winning many medals.
