Arif Khan-led India depart for Beijing Olympics

New Delhi, Feb 1: Skier Arif Khan, the only athlete representing India at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, left for the Games in the Chinese capital along with Chef De Mission Harjinder Singh and support staff. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra wished the contingent luck before its departure for the Games on Monday. Arif, who will participate in two events, is aiming a modest top-30 finish in the showpiece which begins Friday. The Indian team will return on February 19. Hailing from Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg, Arif will take part in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events in Beijing. His events are scheduled to take place on February 13 and 16. The 31-year-old had previously competed at the 2017 Asian Winter Games in Sapporo. The IOA appointed the Ice Hockey Association of India’s general secretary, Harjinder, as the Chef de Mission of the country’s contingent for the Winter Olympics last December. The skier, who was included in the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS), said his training in Santa Catarina “was helpful”. As far as his expectation from the Games are concerned, he said recently, “I have been training over a couple of years seriously and my expectation is to be in world’s top 30. To be in the top 30 is like a medal winner in the world.” (PTI)