Gulmarg not yet ready for global events: Olympians

Naseer Ganai

Gulmarg, February 27

The Olympians, who recently officiated the Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg, see huge potential for the ski resort as an adventure sports destination. However, they feel that to meet international standards, the slopes require significant improvement beyond their current appeal to tourists.

Need to maintain slopes

Some of the best ski places have just 30 cm of snow and they host world championships. This is because they groom the place in summers. Shiva Keshavan, Winter olympian

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Get international certification

You need to build the slope as per the standards set by the International Ski Federation. Then you need to work and maintain those slopes. Arif Khan, Winter olympian

“We have about six feet of snow here, but still at some places boulders are protruding where groomers can’t go. Some of the best ski places in the world have just 30 cm of snow and they also host world championships there. This is because they are grooming the place in the summers by removing the boulders and are making sure that the skiing surface is flat. These are a few of things that need to be done here also,” six-timed winter Olympian in Luge, Shiva Keshavan, said.

Keshavan, who is also the Indian Olympic Association adhoc committee chairman of ski and snowboarding, said slopes need to be certified for international contests. He said Gulmarg has immense potential for ski mountaineering, which is making its debut at the 2026 Olympics. “We are preparing for that as there is a substantial talent pool. What needs to be done is structured coaching,” he said. “This place can become country’s launchpad to nurture players by augmenting infrastructure,” Shiva added.

Arif Khan, a local icon, who represented India in the previous Winter Olympics and will be representing the country again in the 2026 Winter Olympics, said there are about five young skiers in the Valley, who are very good in their technique and speed. “I see future champions in them, if they are well groomed,” he added.

Arif said to prepare for international events like Olympics, the players need to participate in world-level competitions and have to get good training. “Khelo India is good for such a vision. But for world-class training, you need to prepare slopes. You need to build the slope according to international standards as set by the International Ski Federation. Then you need to work and maintain those slopes,” he said.

He insisted that modern technology should be used to compact the slopes and good coaches should be hired to train the athletes. “Then only can we think of having athletes, who can compete at the world level. Right now we are lacking good infrastructure for winter sports.”

“For tourists and free riders, these slopes are good. They enjoy it. But for preparing to compete at international level, this will not work,” he said pointing towards snowbound Gulmarg where youngsters were skiing. “We need to build up slopes here. We need to build three to four lines of different slopes,” he added.