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Arif Khan (skier) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 28, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 March 1990

Age31 Years

BirthplaceGulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, India

ProfessionAlpine Skiing

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather - Yasin Khan; Brother - Merajudin Khan; Mother - Not Known

Arif Khan (skier) Biography

Mohammad Arif Khan is an Indian alpine skier from Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir. A specialist in slalom and giant slalom, he became the first Indian athlete to

Early life and background

Mohammad Arif Khan was born on 3 March 1990 in Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir, India. He grew up in a family connected to skiing through his father, Yasin Khan, who ran a ski equipment shop in their town. Arif started skiing very young — he began practising on local slopes at the age of four and had access to a small slope near his father’s shop that allowed him to train frequently through his childhood.

By age ten he was competing at the state level, and at twelve he won a national championship gold in the slalom. Those early experiences in Gulmarg set the foundation for a career focused on alpine disciplines.

Career

Arif Khan has made his name competing in slalom and giant slalom events. His international junior debut came at sixteen when he represented India at a FIS event in Yomase, Japan. He went on to compete at continental and world-level events, including the Asian Winter Games in Sapporo in 2017 and the FIS World Ski Championships in 2013, where he finished 59th in slalom and 91st in giant slalom.

At the 2011 South Asian Winter Games, Arif won two gold medals, one each in slalom and giant slalom. He has represented India at more than a hundred ski competitions worldwide and trains in Europe for much of the year.

A notable milestone came in late 2021 when Arif was named to India’s team for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the slalom event, marking him as the first Indian athlete to represent the country in alpine slalom at those Games. In December 2021 he also received the opportunity to compete in the giant slalom. Earlier in 2021 he recorded a career-first by qualifying for the finals at an Italian giant slalom event, finishing 45th.

Throughout his career Arif has also worked as a skiing instructor and coach, and he founded the National Ski Academy of India (NSAI) to contribute to the sport’s development in the country.

Support and challenges

Arif’s father has been a steady source of support, arranging funds and helping him pursue training and competition. Financial challenges have impacted his career at times: he was unable to attend the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in 2018 after failing to raise sufficient crowdfunding to cover expenses. In 2021 the Sports Authority of India provided support under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), granting him funds to train in Europe and to procure equipment, assistance he acknowledged publicly.

Public profile

Arif remains active on social media, where he shares motivational messages and updates about his skiing. As of the information provided, he maintains an Instagram account followed by more than 1.7k people and a Facebook presence with over 2.8k followers. Beyond skiing, he is trained in golf and cycling.

Personal life

Arif comes from Gulmarg and holds Indian nationality. He is unmarried. His immediate family includes his father, Yasin Khan, and a brother named Merajudin Khan; his mother’s name is not listed. Standing approximately 172 cm (about 5 feet 8 inches) tall, he has black hair and black eyes.

Latest updates

In 2021 Arif received official backing from Indian sports authorities which helped him prepare in Europe and buy equipment. That same period saw his selection for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics — a landmark in his career and a step toward his stated goal of raising India’s profile in international skiing. He continues to compete internationally and to run initiatives aimed at growing the sport at home.
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Recent Work

Beijing Winter Olympics (selection)

Selected to represent India in slalom and later also granted the opportunity to compete in giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

2022
National Ski Academy of India (founder)

Founder of an academy aimed at developing skiing in India.

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Career Highlights

  1. Started skiing at age four and competing by age ten
  2. Two gold medals in slalom and giant slalom at the 2011 South Asian Winter Games
  3. Represented India at the 2013 FIS World Ski Championships
  4. Qualified for giant slalom finals in Italy in 2021 (finished 45th)
  5. Named to India’s team for alpine slalom at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Arif Khan (skier) born?

3 March 1990

What is Arif Khan (skier) known for?

Alpine Skiing

What is Arif Khan (skier)’s marital status?

Unmarried