Reyaz Rashid
Srinagar: After Arif Khan’s feat making to Beijing Winter Olympics 2020, two more Kashmiri ski athletes Ayan Tariq Zargar from Baramulla and Waseem Ahmad Bhat from Tangmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are going to represent India in 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be hosted at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon.
The Asian Alpine Ski Championship is being hosted by the Lebanese Ski Federation for men and women, at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian from 23 to 27 February.
This championship is an elite alpine skiing contest organized by the Asian Ski Federation, hosting competitors from Asian countries, including Lebanon, China, South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Hong Kong.
Young Alpine Skier Ayan Tariq has played three nationals and has won two silvers – one silver in Slalom and one sliver in giant slalom respectively and wants to push the envelope even further in future. Besides in 2021 nationals, he has won one gold and one silver in slalom and gaint salalom respectively.
“This year I have qualified first for the junior nationals held in India’s premier ski resort destination Auli Utrakhand from 7 to 9 February . Now I got selected to represent India in under 21 category in 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be hosted at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon,” said Ayan who feels elated with selection.
“I am m feeling very proud and am extremely happy that I am going to represent my country in Asian championship after a lot of hard work. I am hopeful that this platform will give me chance to prove myself and to move forward,” said Ayan while talking to SNS Kashmir.
Ayan is a son of senior ski instructor Tariq Ahmad Zargar who worked as instructor and trainer in Indian Institute of Skiing in Gulmarg.“At the age of four my father took me to Gulmarg to make me acquaint with skiing and since then there is no looking back. I also dream to be at the Winter Olympics,” says Ayan.
Waseem Bhat from Mullabangil Tangmarg known as ‘Tiger’ of skiing started his skiing journey at the worlds famous skiing destination Gulmarg with the elder ski champs of Gulmarg He is really a good racer skier his moves has make people crazy at many places.
He has represents many times j&k team in the field of skiing and got many madels.Bhat has also played national 7 times , In 2014 he got selected for the Indian Ski team. Waseem bhat is also registered with the FIS which is a international skiing organization.
” I have played three nationals in junior, 6 times national in senior category and also participated 8 times in state championship, and so many District Level events so far. 2 time’s state champion (gold) in senior category,” Bhat informed.
Secretary General Ski and Snowboard India Roop Chand Negi in the letter to the athletes declare that Ayaan Tariq and Waseem Bhat are going to take part in 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championship to be hosted at the Mzaar Ski Resort in Kfardebian in Lebanon.This will be the first time that a championship of this level is held in Lebanon for both men and women. Lebanon had previously organized five times the skiing championship for Junior and Children, in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2016, and 2017 with Lebanon winning many medals.