Arif Khan and Stanzin Lundup to Lead India’s Two-Member Charge at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

India’s Winter Olympic story will continue at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a compact but determined two-athlete contingent set to compete in Milano Cortina.

Alpine skier Arif Khan and cross-country skier Stanzin Lundup will represent the country at the Games, scheduled from February 6 to 22, 2026, across northern Italy.

For a nation yet to win a Winter Olympic medal, expectations remain realistic. But participation itself, particularly under challenging circumstances, carries weight. Both athletes arrive with contrasting journeys one through ranking-based qualification and the other after a prolonged legal battle.

Arif Khan: Experience and Responsibility

Arif Khan, who made history at the 2022 Beijing Games by becoming the first Indian to qualify in two alpine events, returns for his second Olympic appearance. This time, he will compete in the men’s slalom on February 16 and has also been named India’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

Khan qualified through the FIS ranking system, meeting the Olympic qualification criteria based on his international results. Over the past Olympic cycle, he has maintained competitive consistency across European events and training blocks, keeping his FIS points within the required threshold.

His Beijing campaign saw him finish 45th in the giant slalom India’s best recent alpine showing while he did not complete the slalom event. Milano Cortina therefore presents both continuity and unfinished business. At 35, Khan brings experience, exposure, and composure to a team otherwise limited in numbers.

The men’s slalom event will take place at Bormio’s Stelvio Ski Centre, a technically demanding venue known for steep gradients and rapid gate sequences. Slalom, unlike downhill or giant slalom, demands aggressive edge control and split-second balance corrections. For India, a clean two-run completion would itself mark progress in a discipline where DNFs are common.

Stanzin Lundup: From Courtroom to Start Line

The selection of Stanzin Lundup for the men’s 10km freestyle cross-country event on February 13 was anything but straightforward.

Lundup, an Indian Army skier from Ladakh, secured India’s Olympic quota based on his performance at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. However, a dispute emerged with fellow Army skier Manjeet, who challenged the selection in court, arguing that he held a superior global ranking.

The matter reached the Delhi High Court just days before the Games. Ultimately, logistical constraints prevented any change in nomination, and Lundup was cleared to compete. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports allowed his participation at no additional cost to the government, though the legal scrutiny raised fresh questions about winter sports governance in India.

Lundup will compete at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium in the men’s 10km freestyle interval start. Unlike mass-start events, skiers begin individually at staggered intervals, racing against the clock. The format rewards pacing discipline and sustained aerobic efficiency. Training in Ladakh’s high-altitude terrain, combined with exposure through Army-supported programs, has shaped Lundup’s endurance profile. While podium contention remains unlikely, a competitive timing benchmark will be the immediate objective.

Milano Cortina 2026 will feature 16 sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, luge, bobsleigh, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, speed skating, and ski mountaineering making its Olympic debut. India’s participation remains limited to alpine and cross-country skiing, disciplines where sporadic representation has occurred since the country’s Winter Olympic debut in 1964.

Historically, India’s best Winter Olympic result came through Shiva Keshavan in luge (25th in Turin 2006), while alpine skiers and cross-country athletes have largely finished outside medal contention. Structural challenges including limited domestic infrastructure, inconsistent federation recognition, and financial dependency on personal or military backing continue to restrict growth.

India has never won a Winter Olympic medal. Given the dominance of European and North American nations in winter disciplines, a podium finish remains aspirational rather than immediate. However, Winter Olympics participation carries symbolic and developmental value. The Khelo India Winter Games and Army-backed training ecosystems have started to expand the grassroots base. Athletes from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh are increasingly visible in international circuits.

Arif Khan’s second Olympic appearance signals continuity. Lundup’s qualification despite administrative turbulence demonstrates that Indian skiers can meet international benchmarks.

India’s Schedule

• February 13: Men’s 10km Freestyle (Stanzin Lundup)
• February 16: Men’s Slalom (Arif Khan)

While India’s Summer Olympic momentum continues to rise, the Winter Games represent a parallel journey less visible but equally demanding. The 2026 campaign will not be judged solely by placements but by completion, competitiveness, and the foundation it lays for future participation.

In Milano Cortina, the tricolour will be carried by just two athletes.

But in winter sport terms, their presence reflects resilience more than numbers.