PYEONGCHANG: Olympian skier Mohammad Karim, 22, of Pakistan will be competing in his first event in the Winter Games 2018 at Pyeongchang on Sunday and is hopeful of making an impact due to his fitness and preparation for the event.

Karim, who is representing Pakistan for the second time in Winter Olympics after the Sochi Games in 2014, has qualified in slalom and giant slalom categories at Pyeongchang and the two events will taking place on Sunday and Wednesday respectively.

“It feels very good as I shall be competing with the best skiers of the world and will be trying my best to raise the national flag high,” Karim told Ski Federation of Pak­istan (SFP) spokesman Obaid-ur-Rah­man Abbasi on telephone from Pyeongchang.

“I am relaxed as I have done very hard training back in my country as well as on the international slopes and believe that this time I will be able to produce the best results,” he added.

Recalling his journey to the Winter Olympics, Karim said: “I started with wooden skies when I was a child as I could not afford top level skiing equipment. But I am extremely thankful to PAF and the SFP who made me a top class skier after giving me fantastic facilities which I could only dream of.”

“Now it is my turn to produce the results and to raise my country’s name in the world and I will use my best skills and work very hard to do that,” said Karim in a confident tone.

Meanwhile, Karim’s coach Colonel Wali and Sohail Ahmed backed the talented skier to cause an upset on Sunday in the slalom category. “He is in fine shape, is very skillful and has prepared extremely hard, so we believe can fetch a medal for Pakistan here,” said Wali.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2018