New Delhi

After Arif Khan became the only Indian to qualify for and participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, it’s the turn of a Kashmiri woman alpine skier Haya Muzaffer to represent the country in an international skiing event.

She is currently representing India in the UAE Alpine Slalom Championship (FIS Race) in Dubai in which Olympians Arif Khan and Waseem Ahmed Bhat are participating.

Haya, Arif, and Waseem are part of a 12-member Indian contingent for the UAE Alpine Slalom Championship that started on November 2 and concludes on November 9 in Dubai City.

The Indian contingent was invited by the UAE Winter Sports Federation on the recommendation of Ski and Snowboard India.

For the 21-year-old Haya, it is her first exposure to a major international event. She started learning Skiing at the age of seven.

Haya hails from Srinagar’s Batmaloo area which was once infamous for stone-pelting incidents and violent demonstrations.

The athletes can earn points for the Winter Olympics in this championship.

Skiers from all over the world participate in such races to get a chance to make it to the Olympics. For Haya, it is a career-changing opportunity.

For two seasons, Haya has been performing well at the national level.

She won a silver medal in the 2022 Alpine Skiing National championship held in Uttarakhand this year and had won silver and bronze medals a year earlier.

Haya told Greater Kashmir newspaper, “It is a dream come true to be participating in the FIS Race. I have always dreamt about it and finally, I am realising my dream."

"I have been working hard and the recent results both at the J&K level and national level are testimony to that. I have been able to win medals for J&K in the national championships,” Haya said.

“FIS Race is something else when it comes to competition. The level of competition is so high that one can’t relax even for a second. These competitions teach you a lot of things and help a player to get better,” Haya said.

“With Arif also on the team, I will be able to learn a lot from him. I am sure that by participating in this event I will be able to improve my game manifold.”

Winter Games Association of J&K President Muhammad Abbas Wani hailed Haya for her talent and expressed hope that she does well in the event. “These athletes have been chosen by Ski India. But it is good to see three of our players being part of the Indian contingent. The good thing is that a girl skier from Kashmir is participating in such a top-level event,” he told the newspaper.

Arif Khan from tangmarg, Kashmir is India’s top skier and the only Olumpian. He would launch his bid for qualification into the next Olympics through these FIS races.

Waseem Bhat is an upcoming talented skier who represented India in Lebanon last year. Like Haya, he has also won medals for J&K in the National arena.

Winter Games Association of J&K (WGAJK) President Muhammad Abbass Wani termed it 'great' for the winter sports of J&K to have two athletes in the FIS race.

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Wani said, “It is good to see Waseem also selected for the event by Ski India. He will gain experience with this race, and Arif Khan is also there to guide him,” he said