Skier Arif Khan Eyes Top-30 Finish At Beijing Winter Olympics

Beijing Winter Olympics-bound Indian skier Arif Khan, who will participate in two events, is aiming a modest top-30 finish in the showpiece which begins on Friday. The 31-year-old Khan is the lone Indian participant in the February 4-20 quadrennial event. He secured his berth in the Winter Olympics in a qualifying event in Dubai last year. "To be honest, if you want to be a medal contender, you require at least 10 years of training and preparation, (need) to have (decent) budget and funding, only then it's possible to be in medal contention," Khan, an Alpine skier, said at a virtual interaction, organised by the Sports Authority of India, on Sunday.

"I have been training over a couple of years seriously and my expectation is to be make in world's top 30. To be in top 30 is like medal winners in the world." Khan will take part in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events in Beijing.

"This sport is very different and you can be never consistent at winning. Even if you make one mistake while going down the hill, it is like done. You make a mistake and you are out of the game," added Khan, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir.

The skier, who was included in the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) recently, also said that his performances have improved and his training in Santa Catarina "was helpful".

"Last one year, my training has been taken care of well. I have been performing much better than I used to before.

"We will have two runs, the first run is always described as the best run and if you make it through, the next run can really make it to the podium. If there are mistakes, you might go out of the game," he said and also SAI for its support.

Khan stressed on the importance of mental preparation ahead of the quadrennial event.