Human hopes he will put in his best at Winter Olympics

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top skier of cross country Syed Human on Sunday said that he would put in his best at the Winter Olympics which would be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from February 9-25.

“I have worked really hard and am confident to put in my best in Winter Games,” the 26-year-old Human told ‘The News’ in an interview from scenic town Naltar, Gilgit Baltistan.

Human is the nephew (sister’s son) of Olympian Mohammad Karim who will also represent Pakistan in the Winter Olympics in both slalom and giant slalom.

Karim, who is younger than his nephew, featured in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Human, who has to his credit national cross country titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017, featured in Olympics qualifiers last year in Finland and Turkey.

In Finland he took part in three matches and in Turkey he participated in four matches and achieved excellent scores to make it to the Winter Olympics.

“I needed a score of below 300. In the first match in Turkey I scored 200, in the next two races I made 173 and in the fourth race I scored 183 and that was enough,” Human recalled.

This is the first time in history that two skiers of Pakistan will feature in Winter Olympics in three disciplines.

This is the third time in a row that Pakistan will feature in Winter Olympics.

Mohammad Abbas made debut for Pakistan when he took part in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Human said that initially he was into alpine skiing. “I was an athlete of alpine. Army’s coach Mohammad Iqbal advised me that I should also practice cross country in which he hoped I would succeed. I took up cross country in 2009. In 2012 I was sent to Czech Republic for training and that helped me a lot as I became national champion in 2014. In alpine my position at the national level was not that good but in cross country I did very well,” Human said.

“Alpine and cross country are different things and their techniques are also different. To me cross country is more competitive as you will see more participants in the discipline at the international level,” Human added.

He said that he was proud of his achievements. “It was my great desire to play at the highest level and God has provided me with a chance to show my talent at the biggest stage,” Human said.

He said his qualification for the Winter Games had motivated youngsters in Naltar. “The youngsters have been very much motivated by my success and they have started hard work. I am confident in the next Winter Olympics more skiers, especially in cross country, will represent Pakistan,” he said.

Human is currently training in Naltar under a Greek coach who has been invited by the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) to train the budding skiers of the country.

“I am training hard under the Greek coach at a high altitude. The snow is not that much but it is still enough for practice,” Human said.

Pakistan’s contingent, carrying two skiers and six officials, leaves for South Korea on February 5.