Srinagar: Arif Mohammed Khan, India’s top alpine skier, has officially qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in the slalom event, set to take place in Milano Cortina.
This marks his second Olympic appearance, following his historic representation of India at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
The men’s skiing events will be hosted at Bormio’s Stelvio Ski Centre, where Arif has secured his place by accumulating sufficient FIS points for automatic qualification in the Slalom category. The 35-year-old athlete now aims to qualify for the Giant Slalom event in upcoming competitions.
Who is Arif Khan?
A trailblazer in Indian winter sports, Arif Khan was India’s sole representative at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. His journey to the global stage began in November 2021 when he became the first Indian athlete to earn a quota for Beijing in slalom. He later extended his feat by securing a spot in giant slalom at a qualification event in Montenegro.
Hailing from Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir, Arif was introduced to skiing at the age of four, thanks to his father, Yasin Khan, who owns a ski equipment shop in the region. Over the years, he has become the face of Indian alpine skiing, continuing to break barriers and inspire the next generation of winter sports enthusiasts.
