MANALI : The nine-member Indian contingent, including six athletes and three officials, left Delhi for Lebanon to participate in the Asian Alpine Ski Championships starting from February 23.
The Indian contingent has four skiers from Himachal and two from Kashmir. The team has a team manager and two coaches. The team was received by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta, who flagged the team that has two female athletes and four male athletes.
The alpine skiers include Sandhya, Tanuja, Abhishek and Nikhil from Manali and Waseem Bhatt and Ayan Tariq from Kashmir. Himachal Pradesh Winter Games Association (HPWGI) vice-president Jagdish Lal is the team manager, while international athletes Santosh Kumar and Shanti Devi went as coaches.
Ski and Snowboard India secretary general Roop Chand Negi said, “They have their races on February 24 and 25. Our athletes are showing their presence in all major events around the world and are trying their best on the slopes. Winter games are now gaining much popularity in the country. ”
Negi added that in effort to perform better in winter Olympics, world championships and Asian games, the young athletes of the country will be provided with international standards coaching from world’s top coaches. “The athletes would be shortlisted according to their merit. Children would be trained for next Olympics,” he added.
The 30th Asian Alpine Ski Championships are being organised for men and women at Mzaar Ski Resorts in Kfardebian from February 23 to 25. The event is being organised by Asian Ski Federation while Lebanon and Lebanese Ski Federation are the host. Countries like Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Iran, Kirgizstan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Singapore will be participating in it.
