New Delhi, February 15 (Xinhua) -- As the only Indian athlete to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics, Mohammed Arif Khan made his personal "debut" on the 13th. His father, Muhammad Yassin Khan, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that he expected Arif to achieve better results and hoped that he would enjoy the first Winter Olympics trip.
India's Muhammad Arif Khan competes in the men's giant slalom in alpine skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Yichen
Arif, 31, from northern India, qualified for the Olympics at the end of last year and will compete in two minor events, downhill skiing, the Big Slalom and the Slalom. Yassin said on the 15th: "Arif qualified for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics last year, which is a dream come true, and I am happy and proud of my son."
Arif was supposed to get married last year, but after qualifying for the Beijing Winter Olympics, he shelved the plan and threw himself into the preparations. Yassin said: "Participating in the Winter Olympics is a dream that my son has always pursued. For him, the Beijing Winter Olympics will be a unique life experience, enhancing his sports experience while also achieving personal growth. ”
"He contacted us almost every day, and he was full of praise for the venue facilities and the organization of the Beijing Winter Olympics," Yassin said, "and he told us that everything there was – the food, the training grounds and the accommodation conditions were amazing." ”
On the 13th, Arif completed his first match of the Winter Olympics, and he completed the big slalom in 2 minutes 47.24 seconds at the Yanqing National Alpine Ski Center.
India's Muhammad Arif Khan competes in the men's giant slalom in alpine skiing at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Feb. 13. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Chenlin
While most people in India make cricket their go-to sport of choice, Arif's passion for skiing comes from his family and his hometown. Yassin, who is also keen on skiing, said: "I took Arif to the ski slopes when he was only 4 years old, and since then he has grown his talent and passion for the sport and won the local championships. Over the years, Alif has also won at national level events, which has always kept him passionate about the sport. ”
At the age of 10, Arif decided to become a professional skier. At the age of 12, he won his first gold medal at the Indian National Junior Championships. Yassin runs a ski equipment store in his hometown, and most of the profits go to his son: Arif began training abroad and competed in three World Championships.
On the 16th, Arif will participate in the slalom event, and his family also hopes that he can achieve good results in this competition. "Hopefully he can improve his pace and finish every day, and our family is looking forward to his good performance," Yassin said.
Editors: Shuwen, Wang Hengzhi, Zheng Daojin, Yang Keran (Intern)