Two-time Olympian Arif Mohammad Khan has called on the Union Sports Ministry to establish at least one fully developed infrastructure on the slopes of Gulmarg to prepare Indian athletes for international competitions, according to a press release.
He emphasised the need for a full season of "at least five months till April-end" to train and compete on the slopes of Kangdoori in Gulmarg for the development of the country's top skiers.
Praising the Khelo India Winter Games, Arif commented, "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 made history at the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy, where he finished 39th in the men's slalom race. This was an improvement of 10 places on India's previous best Winter Olympics result in the event, set by Kishore Ratna Rai at Calgary in 1988.
He stated that his record finish in the giant slalom event has put India "in the global ski map," and said that it was time to invest prudently in winter sports to start winning medals at the Asian level.
Since 2020, all six editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been held in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, while Leh in Ladakh has hosted the ice games since 2024.
Union minister for youth affairs and sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has announced the 2027 edition of the Khelo India Winter Games will extend to 15 days, with the aim of making Gulmarg a global winter sports destination.
Arif, who trained on the Pir Panjal mountains, described the combination of sports and tourism as an excellent idea. He said, "We have the athletes, and there are ones who can be better than me. But we are missing infrastructure, coaches and funding. Given the government's intention to develop winter sports, I can see better things in the future. We need at least one fully-developed infrastructure in Gulmarg that can function for a good five months." He added, "I can guarantee we will win medals at the top Asian level in 10-15 years."
Stating that his finish at the Winter Olympics should inspire youngsters to pursue winter sports as a career, Arif said a national federation was urgently required to understand athletes' needs. "The government is doing a lot through its policies to streamline governance in sports bodies. Winter sports like skiing need immediate government intervention and full support," said the 36-year-old.
Arif is currently training three young boys, two from Jammu & Kashmir and one from Himachal Pradesh. He noted, "There are a lot of talented athletes in the hilly states and Union Territories. Some skiers are also emerging from South India, but the availability of year-round facilities is a major handicap. At least, skating has all-weather facilities in Dehradun and Leh, and Gulmarg can be a priority now."