THE STORY OF ARIF KHAN:

In the snowy village of Gulmarg, Kashmir, a four-year-old boy clipped on his first skis (not in a high-performance facility) outside his father’s humble ski shop. That boy, Arif Khan, has now carved his name into history as India’s first and only ALPINE SKIER to qualify for two consecutive Winter Olympics: first at Beijing 2022 in China and now at Milano-Cortina 2026 in the Italian Alps. Arif amongst his peers, fans and well-wishers is better known as SKIING KHAN.

Read this story to appreciate his incredible achievements and understand why he needs your support. To compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the total expenses are estimated at INR 50 L. Through this crowdfunding campaign, we aim to raise an amount of INR 25 L.

This is India’s once-in-a-generation shot at a Winter Olympic medal. But he can’t do it alone. He needs your support to win a medal and make all of us proud.

THE BACKGROUND:

At just 16, Arif made his international debut at a junior international ski federation (FIS) event in Yomase, Japan and in 2011, he won two gold medals at the South Asian Winter Games in Slalom and Giant Slalom (Slalom, refers to a zigzag course or a race where participants must navigate a winding path between obstacles). Since then, he has represented India in over 120 international events, including multiple FIS Alpine World Ski Championships and the Asian Winter Games.

In 2022, Arif created history by becoming the first Indian to qualify for two alpine skiing events at the same Winter Olympics, the Beijing Games. He carried the Indian flag and finished the Giant Slalom, becoming a symbol of courage, consistency, and commitment. Now, at 35, Arif has done the unthinkable again, qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina in the Italian Alps. With limited infrastructure for skiing in India, Arif has overcome countless challenges, including self-funding his training and competing with minimal resources.

Check out the video to learn more about Arif’s inspiring journey.

WHY ARIF'S JOURNEY IS EXTRAORDINARY:

Alpine skiing is a sport of privilege, year-round training on snow, elite coaches, sports science support, race-tuned equipment, and global competitions. It’s a world dominated by wealthy nations with snow-covered peaks and massive budgets. 

What Arif offers instead is pure heart, unbreakable will, and decades of sacrifice. His father, Mohammad Yaseen Khan, poured every ounce of his savings into Arif’s dream, running a small ski shop in Gulmarg.

Pic: Arif's qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics was covered by the Indian media.

Pic: Arif's achievements have been extensively covered in the media.

Help Arif Khan reach the 2026 Winter Olympics! We're raising INR 25 lakhs (out of the required 50L) through this crowdfunding campaign to fund his journey to the Winter Olympics 2026. 

Here's a breakdown of the expenses:

Arif now has some strategic partners in his journey. One of them is an organisation called IIS.

INSPIRE INSTITUTE OF SPORTS (IIS) was launched in 2017. Inspire Institute of Sports is India’s first privately funded high-performance training centre dedicated to building Olympic champions.

Arif’s core needs are already covered by IIS, including 120 days of on-snow training, 18 competitions, coaching fee, equipment, and holistic sports science support. This fundraiser is the final push, helping to cover critical extras such as extended training, competitions, travel, and support staff-including a full-time travelling physiotherapist who is especially crucial for this phase of preparation.

We’re raising INR 25 L (out of the INR 50 L required in total) to fund Arif’s last and fiercest Olympic run: Arif’s fight is larger than any one medal. It’s about inspiring a new generation of young athletes across India. It’s also about showing that Indians can dream of medals at the Winter Olympics.

Arif is also a board member of the Saanjha Foundation, an organisation that began by supporting his journey and now empowers over 60 professional athletes, mostly from underprivileged regions in Kashmir. His story has sparked a ripple effect, with his younger brother Mehraj Khan already making history by winning India’s first FIS bronze in snowboarding. This is the start of a movement.

Support Arif, arguably the biggest winter sports advocate our country has seen, as he chases India's first Winter Olympic medal. 

Let's help Arif take India to new heights in 2026!

Arif Khan’s story is not just about skiing; it’s about what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. Join us in supporting Arif Khan. 

ABOUT INSPIRE INSTITUTE OF SPORTS (IIS) :

Launched in 2017, Inspire Institute of Sport is India’s first privately funded high-performance training centre dedicated to building Olympic champions.

With world-class infrastructure and Asia’s only BASES-accredited sports science facility, IIS supports elite athletes across disciplines.

Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) began supporting Arif after a chance skiing session with the Jindal family in Gulmarg, a session that changed his life. Since then, with backing from SBI General Insurance through its CSR programme, IIS has supported Arif and three other young winter athletes (including Mehraj Khan) by:

• Providing cutting-edge equipment

• Giving access to IIS’s sports science support system in Vijayanagara

• Enabling year-round international exposure and competition

This has already led to a significant leap in Arif’s performance and training. Now, with Milano-Cortina 2026 in sight, we’re going all in and asking you to join us.

MORE IMAGES OF ARIF KHAN:

IMAGES OF THE VENUE AT MILANO, ITALIAN ALPS.

Please support Arif, arguably the biggest winter sports advocate our country has seen, as he chases India's first Winter Olympic medal. Fund this campaign, tell your friends, share this link, and together we will all become an integral part of Arif's journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics.