In a historic first, Manali-based athlete Aanchal Thakur scripted India’s first-ever international medal in skiing.
Hailing from Himachal, the 21-year-old nabbed bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup being held at the Palandoken Ski Centre in Erzurum, Turkey. Organised by the FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski), Aanchal won her medal in the slalom race category.
With the win, she has opened the doors to a whole new world of winter sports in India.
If you aren’t familiar with the Winter Olympic Games yet, it is simply because we haven’t facilitated it. A major international sporting event around the world is a thought lost in India.
Hopefully, that thought is about to change!
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Skiing – an expensive sport to start with – initial equipment alone could cost between 5-10 lakhs. And then (just like any other sport) there is the more difficult expenditure of travel.
Aanchal’s expenses are borne by her father, who stipends as the secretary general of the Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), and the FIS, that at times, funds her trips. Typically, there is negligible support from the sports ministry for those participating in winter sports. And the Centre only funds travel and logistics from one Olympic to another.
Given that there is no exposure to winter sports in India, the surprise feat comes as a much-needed breakthrough for those pursuing the dream. It also compels the country to take a second look at winter sports and build on it.
FSI
To Aanchal’s good grace thus far, even as her dad taught her the ropes, Heera Lal, a former Olympian, honed her skiing skills. Their vested efforts allowed her to take to the slopes of Turkey and triumph.
Aanchal’s incredible achievement has been lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, amongst others.
So what’s next in store? She aims to represent the country at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea in February (talk about timing).
And she could very well use every ounce of support she gets!
– Varun Kumar | SpreadSports
