Srinagar: Rauf Tramboo, President of the Winter Games Association of Jammu and Kashmir (WGAJK), has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Selection Committee for the upcoming Winter Games.
The appointment was made by the Olympic Ad-Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India, which is responsible for identifying and nurturing skiing and snowboarding talent across the country.
The newly formed nine-member committee, chaired by Tramboo, will oversee the selection of athletes for Alpine, Snowboard, and Nordic skiing events at international competitions.
The committee members include: Ludar Thakur – Vice Chairperson, Gul Mustafa Dev, Olympian – Eminent Athlete, Chuni Lal Thakur, Olympian – Eminent Athlete, Farhat Ali Naik – Snowboard Member, Rakesh Ranjan – Member, Pradeep Khandre – Member, Mudassir Ahmad Mir – Member, Sadiq Ali – Member.
In a letter addressed to the WGAJK by the Office of the Chairman, IOA Ad-Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India, the body confirmed the formation of the committee, stating:
“We are pleased to confirm the 9-member Selection Committee for the IOA Ad-Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India. The role of the committee will be to identify talent and select athletes for international Alpine, Snowboard, and Nordic Skiing events. Your expertise and experience in the field are highly valued, and we believe your contribution will be instrumental in ensuring a fair and comprehensive selection process.”
Tramboo, a veteran of Indian alpine skiing since the mid-1970s, received formal training up to the advanced level and later served as a guest instructor for the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM). A pioneer in backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering, he is a founding member of the Jammu and Kashmir Ski Mountaineering Association (JKSMA). Over the years, he has explored the upper reaches of the Sindh and Lidder valleys and participated in several ski mountaineering expeditions, including the International Ski Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Kolahoi in 1986.
Expressing his gratitude on the appointment, Tramboo said: “It is indeed a proud moment for all of us at WGAJK and for winter sports athletes that three members of the selection committee are from Jammu and Kashmir. On behalf of all committee members, I extend our gratitude to the Olympic Ad-Hoc Committee for Ski and Snowboard India for reposing trust in us. We are committed to promoting winter sports and identifying the best talent to help India achieve new heights in international competitions.”
