Latest news with #ArifKhan
Kuwait Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Lone Indian Alpine skier needs regular doses of motivation
NEW DELHI: Posters bearing the words 'Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done', 'It always seems impossible until it's done' and 'Hard work beats talent' adorn Arif Khan's modest room in the southern Indian town of Vijayanagar. The 35-year-old Alpine skier needs these regular doses of motivation for he has very little else to lean on six months out from his second appearance in the slalom at the Winter Olympics. Since not enough states participate, winter sports bodies in India do not enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funding. Khan launched a crowdfunding appeal to finance his preparations for Milano-Cortina but has so far raised less than 4 percent of his target of seven million Indian rupees ($80,158). 'It's not going so well at the moment,' Khan told Reuters in a Zoom interview from the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high-performance center run by the Mumbai-based JSW multinational conglomerate. 'I'm not asking for a huge sum. Providing this amount to an athlete representing a great country on the world stage - it's doable. 'I would have been on the snow right now instead of continuing my physical preparations here, if I had the funds.' The IIS has agreed to take care of the core needs of the lone Indian to qualify to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, but it is not enough. The Indian Olympic Association did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on whether it plans to help finance Khan's preparation. The icy indifference from officialdom is not new to Khan, who nearly quit the sport after running out of money in his bid to qualify for the 2018 Olympics. 'I thought enough is enough. There's no proper system or help from the corporate. I could not handle it anymore and I almost quit,' he recalled. 'But as a sportsperson, you do not want to quit easily. For five months I did not train, but the skill was there and the desire never died.' Festering insurgency Khan, who hails from mountainous Indian Kashmir, qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics where he came 45th in giant slalom and failed to finish in slalom. That he came this far is remarkable given he grew up amid a festering insurgency in his homeland and could ski only because his father owned an equipment hire shop in the popular ski resort in Gulmarg. 'My childhood memories are of gunfights and the sound of grenades and bombs going off,' Khan recalled. 'The situation improved after 2005 and tourists started visiting Kashmir again. My father started to earn a bit more and could put some of it into my training.' Kashmir was on the boil again in April when 26 tourists were shot dead by militants, triggering four days of clashes between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. There was a sense of deja vu for Khan, who had just returned home after competing in an event in the United Arab Emirates. 'Once home, I realized there was no way I could train,' Khan said. 'I usually do high-altitude training but the areas I usually visit for trekking, trail running and mountain biking - everything was shut.' Not that it could deter the hardy skier, who postponed his wedding to realize his dream of competing at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. 'I delayed it by one and a half years because I needed that money to fund my travel. My wife Sabiena was fine with it. Her only worry was what if I ran away,' Khan said, his face creasing with a rare smile. 'She's been a great support. She watches all my videos and starts worrying whenever I do the extreme speed events or ski downhill at high speed. 'She's like 'be careful, be careful, do not crash'. We do crash and get injured and that's what she's most concerned about.' — Reuters
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Out in the cold, lone Indian qualifier crowdfunds Milano-Cortina dream
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox NEW DELHI - Posters bearing the words "Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done", "It always seems impossible until it's done" and "Hard work beats talent" adorn Arif Khan's modest room in the southern Indian town of Vijayanagar. The 35-year-old Alpine skier needs these regular doses of motivation for he has very little else to lean on six months out from his second appearance in the slalom at the Winter Olympics. Since not enough states participate, winter sports bodies in India do not enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funding. Khan launched a crowdfunding appeal to finance his preparations for Milano-Cortina but has so far raised less than 4% of his target of seven million Indian rupees ($80,158). "It's not going so well at the moment," Khan told Reuters in a Zoom interview from the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high-performance centre run by the Mumbai-based JSW multinational conglomerate. "I'm not asking for a huge sum. Providing this amount to an athlete representing a great country on the world stage - it's doable. "I would have been on the snow right now instead of continuing my physical preparations here, if I had the funds." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Recent rail disruptions disappointing and 'we can and will do better': Jeffrey Siow Singapore 'It's either my life or the dog's': NSF rescues lost dog which was hit by car in Bedok Singapore Migrant workers who saved driver from sinkhole get SCDF awards, mobile data and goodie bags Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore COE premiums rise in all categories except motorcycles; Cat B at $123,498, highest since Dec 2023 Singapore 19 drivers nabbed over illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore and across border with Malaysia World A 'Huawei moment' looms as US gears up to sell AI-in-a-box to South-east Asia Singapore Man recruited victim to open bank account, forced him to drink urine after account was frozen The IIS has agreed to take care of the core needs of the lone Indian to qualify to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, but it is not enough. The Indian Olympic Association did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on whether it plans to help finance Khan's preparation. The icy indifference from officialdom is not new to Khan, who nearly quit the sport after running out of money in his bid to qualify for the 2018 Olympics. "I thought enough is enough. There's no proper system or help from the corporate. I could not handle it anymore and I almost quit," he recalled. "But as a sportsperson, you do not want to quit easily. For five months I did not train, but the skill was there and the desire never died." FESTERING INSURGENCY Khan, who hails from mountainous Indian Kashmir, qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics where he came 45th in giant slalom and failed to finish in slalom. That he came this far is remarkable given he grew up amid a festering insurgency in his homeland and could ski only because his father owned an equipment hire shop in the popular ski resort in Gulmarg. "My childhood memories are of gunfights and the sound of grenades and bombs going off," Khan recalled. "The situation improved after 2005 and tourists started visiting Kashmir again. My father started to earn a bit more and could put some of it into my training." Kashmir was on the boil again in April when 26 tourists were shot dead by militants, triggering four days of clashes between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. There was a sense of deja vu for Khan, who had just returned home after competing in an event in the United Arab Emirates. "Once home, I realised there was no way I could train," Khan said. "I usually do high-altitude training but the areas I usually visit for trekking, trail running and mountain biking - everything was shut." Not that it could deter the hardy skier, who postponed his wedding to realise his dream of competing at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. "I delayed it by one and a half years because I needed that money to fund my travel. My wife Sabiena was fine with it. Her only worry was what if I ran away," Khan said, his face creasing with a rare smile. "She's been a great support. She watches all my videos and starts worrying whenever I do the extreme speed events or ski downhill at high speed. "She's like 'be careful, be careful, do not crash'. We do crash and get injured and that's what she's most concerned about." REUTERS
CNA
7 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Out in the cold, lone Indian qualifier crowdfunds Milano-Cortina dream
NEW DELHI :Posters bearing the words "Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done", "It always seems impossible until it's done" and "Hard work beats talent" adorn Arif Khan's modest room in the southern Indian town of Vijayanagar. The 35-year-old Alpine skier needs these regular doses of motivation for he has very little else to lean on six months out from his second appearance in the slalom at the Winter Olympics. Since not enough states participate, winter sports bodies in India do not enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funding. Khan launched a crowdfunding appeal to finance his preparations for Milano-Cortina but has so far raised less than 4 per cent of his target of seven million Indian rupees ($80,158). "It's not going so well at the moment," Khan told Reuters in a Zoom interview from the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high-performance centre run by the Mumbai-based JSW multinational conglomerate. "I'm not asking for a huge sum. Providing this amount to an athlete representing a great country on the world stage - it's doable. "I would have been on the snow right now instead of continuing my physical preparations here, if I had the funds." The IIS has agreed to take care of the core needs of the lone Indian to qualify to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, but it is not enough. The Indian Olympic Association did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on whether it plans to help finance Khan's preparation. The icy indifference from officialdom is not new to Khan, who nearly quit the sport after running out of money in his bid to qualify for the 2018 Olympics. "I thought enough is enough. There's no proper system or help from the corporate. I could not handle it anymore and I almost quit," he recalled. "But as a sportsperson, you do not want to quit easily. For five months I did not train, but the skill was there and the desire never died." FESTERING INSURGENCY Khan, who hails from mountainous Indian Kashmir, qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics where he came 45th in giant slalom and failed to finish in slalom. That he came this far is remarkable given he grew up amid a festering insurgency in his homeland and could ski only because his father owned an equipment hire shop in the popular ski resort in Gulmarg. "My childhood memories are of gunfights and the sound of grenades and bombs going off," Khan recalled. "The situation improved after 2005 and tourists started visiting Kashmir again. My father started to earn a bit more and could put some of it into my training." Kashmir was on the boil again in April when 26 tourists were shot dead by militants, triggering four days of clashes between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. There was a sense of deja vu for Khan, who had just returned home after competing in an event in the United Arab Emirates. "Once home, I realised there was no way I could train," Khan said. "I usually do high-altitude training but the areas I usually visit for trekking, trail running and mountain biking - everything was shut." Not that it could deter the hardy skier, who postponed his wedding to realise his dream of competing at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. "I delayed it by one and a half years because I needed that money to fund my travel. My wife Sabiena was fine with it. Her only worry was what if I ran away," Khan said, his face creasing with a rare smile. "She's been a great support. She watches all my videos and starts worrying whenever I do the extreme speed events or ski downhill at high speed. "She's like 'be careful, be careful, do not crash'. We do crash and get injured and that's what she's most concerned about."
Reuters
7 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Out in the cold, lone Indian qualifier crowdfunds Milano-Cortina dream
NEW DELHI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Posters bearing the words "Don't stop when you are tired. Stop when you are done", "It always seems impossible until it's done" and "Hard work beats talent" adorn Arif Khan's modest room in the southern Indian town of Vijayanagar. The 35-year-old Alpine skier needs these regular doses of motivation for he has very little else to lean on six months out from his second appearance in the slalom at the Winter Olympics. Since not enough states participate, winter sports bodies in India do not enjoy the National Sports Federation (NSF) status that would entitle them to regular government funding. Khan launched a crowdfunding appeal to finance his preparations for Milano-Cortina but has so far raised less than 4% of his target of seven million Indian rupees ($80,158). "It's not going so well at the moment," Khan told Reuters in a Zoom interview from the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high-performance centre run by the Mumbai-based JSW multinational conglomerate. "I'm not asking for a huge sum. Providing this amount to an athlete representing a great country on the world stage - it's doable. "I would have been on the snow right now instead of continuing my physical preparations here, if I had the funds." The IIS has agreed to take care of the core needs of the lone Indian to qualify to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, but it is not enough. The Indian Olympic Association did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment on whether it plans to help finance Khan's preparation. The icy indifference from officialdom is not new to Khan, who nearly quit the sport after running out of money in his bid to qualify for the 2018 Olympics. "I thought enough is enough. There's no proper system or help from the corporate. I could not handle it anymore and I almost quit," he recalled. "But as a sportsperson, you do not want to quit easily. For five months I did not train, but the skill was there and the desire never died." Khan, who hails from mountainous Indian Kashmir, qualified for the 2022 Winter Olympics where he came 45th in giant slalom and failed to finish in slalom. That he came this far is remarkable given he grew up amid a festering insurgency in his homeland and could ski only because his father owned an equipment hire shop in the popular ski resort in Gulmarg. "My childhood memories are of gunfights and the sound of grenades and bombs going off," Khan recalled. "The situation improved after 2005 and tourists started visiting Kashmir again. My father started to earn a bit more and could put some of it into my training." Kashmir was on the boil again in April when 26 tourists were shot dead by militants, triggering four days of clashes between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan before a ceasefire was agreed on May 10. There was a sense of deja vu for Khan, who had just returned home after competing in an event in the United Arab Emirates. "Once home, I realised there was no way I could train," Khan said. "I usually do high-altitude training but the areas I usually visit for trekking, trail running and mountain biking - everything was shut." Not that it could deter the hardy skier, who postponed his wedding to realise his dream of competing at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. "I delayed it by one and a half years because I needed that money to fund my travel. My wife Sabiena was fine with it. Her only worry was what if I ran away," Khan said, his face creasing with a rare smile. "She's been a great support. She watches all my videos and starts worrying whenever I do the extreme speed events or ski downhill at high speed. "She's like 'be careful, be careful, do not crash'. We do crash and get injured and that's what she's most concerned about." ($1 = 87.3275 Indian rupees)
India.com
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor who became famous villain, gave competition to Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, quit acting to become Maulana, his name is...
There are many times when actors and actresses gain a lot of fame, name, and money in the showbiz industry. However, they then vanish into thin air following their stardom. A similar case happened when Arif Khan made his debut and then disappeared. When Ajay Devgn's Phool Aur Kaante was released in 1991, one character that garnered attention was the villain Rocky, played by Arif Khan. Arif continued to act in several more films, but after spending a few years in the industry, he realized that his true calling lay elsewhere. Arif Khan Left Bollywood to Become a Maulana Taking to Instagram, Arif once shared a video of himself and captioned it, 'Janab Arif Khan Sahab (Ex-Bollywood Actor).' In the video, he introduces himself and shares that he turned to a life of spirituality. In the video, Arif Khan said, 'You must have seen my film Phool Aur Kaante from 1991. It was a hugely popular film in India. That was my and Ajay Devgn's first film. I was full of youthful energy at 23 years old. After that, I worked in 14-15 more films and TV serials. I had a life full of respect, wealth, and fame. But later, Allah showed me the right path, my life changed, and today, I am here (sic).' How Arif Khan Became a Maulana in Tablighi Jamaat Before switching fields, Arif did various prestigious films including Hooni Ilaaka, Veergati, Muskurahat, Mohra, Mohabbat, and Jang. Not just movies, Arif also tried his luck in television and featured in TV shows. Despite some good performances, Arif failed to establish himself as an actor in the industry. It was during this time that he realized his calling was different. He opted to walk out of the film industry and took a keen interest in spirituality. He chose to devote his life to spirituality by becoming a Maulana with the Tablighi Jamaat, dedicating himself to practicing Islam and spreading its teachings. Why Arif Khan Left Bollywood In one of his interviews, Arif revealed that he felt restless while working in the showbiz industry. Not just that, he also started questioning his own integrity and wondered what could be the reason producers were not casting him in big-budget films. As a result, Arif got indulged in alcohol and became an addict. After spending nearly 7-8 years in the film industry, Arif Khan devoted his life to spreading the message of truth and chose the path of becoming a Maulana.
