New Delhi: Two-time Olympian and alpine skier Arif Mohammad Khan has urged the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to develop world-class winter sports infrastructure in Gulmarg, saying the move would help Indian athletes prepare for global competitions and elevate the country’s standing in winter sports.
Arif said that at least one fully developed training infrastructure is needed on the slopes of Gulmarg, particularly at Kangdoori, where athletes can train and compete for a full winter season lasting around five months until the end of April.
He lauded the government’s Khelo India Winter Games initiative, noting that six editions of the event have already laid a strong foundation for winter sports in the country.
“Six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have provided an incredible platform to athletes, but now we have to look at ways of winning medals at major global competitions,” Arif said.
The skier recently made history at the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, where he finished 39th in the men’s slalom race, improving India’s previous best result in the event by ten places. The earlier record was set by Kishore Ratna Rai at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics.
Arif said the achievement has helped place India on the global skiing map and stressed the need for greater investment in winter sports to target medals at the Asian level.
Since 2020, all six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, while Leh in Ladakh has hosted the ice events since 2024.
He also welcomed the announcement by Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to expand the 2027 edition of the Khelo India Winter Games into a 15-day event aimed at promoting Gulmarg as a global winter sports destination.
Calling the integration of sports and tourism an excellent idea, Arif said India already has talented athletes who can achieve even greater success with the right support.
“We have the athletes and there are ones who can be better than me. But we are missing infrastructure, coaches and funding. If the government continues to focus on developing winter sports, I believe India can win medals at the top Asian level within the next 10 to 15 years,” he said.
Arif also emphasized the need for a dedicated national federation to address the requirements of winter sports athletes and streamline support systems.
The 36-year-old skier, who trained on the slopes of the Pir Panjal mountains, is currently coaching three young skiers—two from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Himachal Pradesh.
Highlighting the growing interest in winter sports, he said talented athletes are emerging from several hilly regions of the country and even from southern states. However, the lack of year-round training facilities remains a major challenge.
“At least skating has all-weather facilities in places like Dehradun and Leh. Gulmarg should now be prioritized for similar infrastructure,” Arif said.
