Bengaluru: When Arif Khan India entered the Beijing National Stadium for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics next month it would mark the peak of a trip for a decade in manufacture.
Khan, who has qualified in the giant slalom and slalom, is the only Indian representative in the match and his way to the Olympics from the Kashmir snowy slope driven by a conflict far from straightforward.
“This will be a big responsibility, it becomes one of one billion and carries the flag,” said Khan 31 of the year told Reuters in an interview.
“It will be an inspirational moment.” Khan was introduced to skiing at the age of four by his father and became professional 14 years ago at the age of 18 years.
He has represented India in 127 international events, competing especially in Europe with a budget shoelace.
“(In India) this sport is not so popular,” he said.
You are not financially supported.
That’s the biggest challenge.
“If you practice for world-level events …
You need at least 110,000 euros ($ 124,740) per season.
If you practice only for the Olympics, you need around 75,000 euros.” That’s the budget.
If you don’t have this budget, you will not reach anywhere.
“These figures are a significant obstacle for a athlete from a country where the minimum daily wage is around 176 Indian rupees ($ 2.37).
Khan’s career has been funded.
Especially by his family.
His father has operated a tour company and ski equipment shop at Gulmarg, Kashmir since the 1980s.
“Whatever we use to get, we (set aside) part of it for my training,” added our Khan.
“Income depends on tourism.
“If there is a good year tour, it can help me train and travel for races for three to four months.” Kombantbut Kashmir Life in Kashmir is unpredictable.
The house of Khan Himalaya is in the midst of a long-term conflict between India and Pakistan neighbors, with hours of night, kuncian, and other restrictions that are normal even before the complicated things of Covid-19 further.
In the buildup for the 2018 match, the riots in Kashmir caused tourism to dry out, forcing Khan to move to crowdfunding with despair, but in the end it didn’t work, trying to keep competing.
“There is no tourism.
We have no support from anywhere,” he said.
“It’s one reason I need to come up with crowdfunding, but …
it doesn’t change into a lot.” Without funding, I can’t achieve my training, I can’t catch the race.
“I managed four results (to qualify for the game) and I needed five.
The fifth, I failed.
If there is time, money …
it can be done.” This time, Khan was supported by Indian Conglomerate group sports arms, JSW sports, which included 40% of the cost.
The government of Jammu and Kashmir covers 10%, he said, and he paid the rest itself.
Khan sealed his Olympic place in Slalom in Dubai in November and qualified for the giant slalom with the 14th finishing in Montenegro in December.
The target is to qualify in the 30 events in Beijing.
Even love took the back seat last year, with Khan delayed his marriage to focus on qualifying.
“It goes up and down if I have to choose the Olympics first or get married first,” he said.
“I went and spoke with (my fiance) and he said alright.” The family is directing their eyes towards us …
like ‘What do you do delay and delay one more year? “We said I had to focus on my training and I didn’t want to be disturbed by anything.” He was happy.
He suggested me.
“