Skier Human upbeat about Winter Olympic Games

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top skier of cross country Syed Human on Sunday said that he would put in his best in 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 is younger than his nephew. Karim had also 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 so it 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 was the first who made debut for Pakistan in the world’s prestigious event when he took part in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Human said that initially he was associated with alpine skiing. “I was an athlete of alpine. Army’s coach Mohammad Iqbal had advised me that I should also practice cross country where I will succeed. I joined 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 went very well,” Human informed.

“Actually both 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 in international level,” Human added. Human 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 in South Korea,” Human said. Human said his qualification for the Winter Games has motivated more youngsters in Naltar. “The youngsters have been very much motivated with my success and they have started hard work and I am confident in the next Winter Olympics more skiers, especially in cross country, would represent Pakistan,” he said. Human is currently training in Naltar under a coach from Greece who has been invited by the Ski Federation of Pakistan (SFP) to impart training to the budding skiers of the country. “I am training hard under the Greek coach at a high altitude. Although the snow is not that much but is still enough for practice,” Human said. Pakistan’s contingent, carrying two skiers and six officials, would leave for South Korea on February 5.