Kashmir's skier Mohd Arif Khan becomes the 1st Indian to qualify for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Alpine skier Mohammad Arif Khan has become the first Indian to be eligible to compete at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in the slalom event.

Arif Khan finished ninth, 10th and twice finished 11th in four slalom events over the past week at the Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. The four slalom events in Dubai were the only four competitions Mohammad Arif Khan has taken part in during the qualification period.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4 to 20. The men’s slalom event will be held on February 16.

Khan, who has represented India in more than 100 ski events held across the world, had been undergoing ski training in Europe for the most part of this year. He is set to become the only skier to represent India in Winter Olympics this year.

Mohammad Arif Khan’s father Yasin Khan owns a ski equipment shop in Gulmarg which explains his love for the sport which he first took up at the age of four.