Arif Khan Creates History at Winter Olympics; Leads Indian Contingent

Mohammad Arif Khan is India's sole representative in Beijing 2022

Skier Arif Khan led a small four-strong Indian contingent during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony here on Friday amid a diplomatic boycott of the event by the country.

Arif, 31, will be the lone Indian competitor at the Games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. India sent a six-member contingent to the Games including a coach, a technician and a team manager.

Mohammad Arif Khan is India's sole representative in Beijing 2022. India was the 23rd country in the Parade of Nations at Beijing. This year, for the first time in Winter Olympics history, each nation had two flag bearers - one man and one woman.

Indian alpine skier Arif Khan, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, is the first-ever Indian athlete to directly qualify for two different events at a single edition of the Winter Games.

He will be competing in the giant slalom event on February 13 and slalom on February 16.

Celebrated Chinese film-maker and three-time Academy Award nominee Zhang Yimou, who also led the Beijing 2008 Summer Games opening and closing ceremonies, directed the opening ceremony for Beijing 2022.

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