Indian Army Nadeem Iqbal becomes 1st soldier from J&K to qualify for main event in Sochi Olympic

[Bhai Zakir]

Indian Army's Nadeem Iqbal becomes 1st soldier from J&K to qualify for main event in Sochi Olympic

Srinagar: Havildar Nadeem Iqbal has become the first soldier from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the 15-Km Nordic Free Style skiing event at the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi.

An army spokesman said Iqbal, who hails from a village in Rajouri district, qualified for the main event of the 15-Km Nordic Free Style event.

"Havildar Nadeem Iqbal has the rare distinction of becoming the first soldier from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the Winter Olympics being held at Sochi, Russia and is the only one from three Services as well. He is one among three sportsmen representing the country at the highest pedestal of winter sports," the spokesman said.

He said the 30-year-old Army Skier joined the Army Ski Team being trained under the aegis of High Altitude Warfare School, Gulmarg in September 2004.

"Having gone through a gruelling training cycle under most trying conditions, tIqbal gradually emerged as a promising skier of the prestigious Army Ski Team.

"Ever since he joined the High Altitude Warfare School, which is a premier training establishment of the Indian Army in Winter and Mountain Warfare, he has been trained with a laid out strict training discipline which includes development of basic skills, honing of skiing techniques, provision of specialist equipment and above all a tailor made training package to build his physical and mental robustness," he added.

Havildar Nadeem Iqbal in his journey up to Winter Olympics has gained sufficient experience by participating at various National and International Ski Championships, the spokesman said.

He has been a National Champion from year 2009 to year 2013 as well as secured first position in the 1st South Asian Winter Games, Auli (Uttrakhand) in 2011.

Iqbal also participated in the Seventh Asian Winter Games at Almaty (Kazakhstan) the same year. He participated in the Federation of International Ski (FIS) Races-2013 at Shemshak, Iran and in FIS Nordic World Skiing Championship held in Italy in 2013.



Read more at: Nadeem becomes 1st soldier from J&K to qualify for main event in Sochi | Firstpost

http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/othersports/220852-sochi-2014-nadeem-iqbal-becomes-first-soldier-from-jk-to-qualify-for-winter-olympics

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-indian-army-man-flies-to-sochi-1961902

http://zeenews.india.com/sports/sochi-olympics-2014/nadeem-first-soldier-from-jandk-to-qualify-for-winter-olympics_780482.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sochi-winter-olympics-army-man-havildar-nadeem-iqbal/1/343358.html

 

[kbd-raaf]

It's kinda sad that so many Olympics athletes from India are from the military.

 

[Bhai Zakir]

Best of luck to the Havildar Nadeem Iqbal

Indian Army zindabaad

Long live India

Hindustan ki kaun hai shaan, Hindu, sikh musalmaan

May the Allah swt bless India and Indian Army

 

[ranjeet]

It's kinda sad that so many Olympics athletes from India are from the military.

Yes it is sad but army provides athletes with proper sports infra, proper diet and stable financial options.

 

[Areesh]

It's kinda sad that so many Olympics athletes from India are from the military.

In our case too the athlete from Gilgit who is representing Pakistan at the winter Olympics is trained and supported by PAF.

 

[PlanetWarrior]

You require money and equipment and offcourse a professional instructor to be able to compete in a sport like this at international level. Who better to fund you than the military

 

[chhota bheem]

Good luck ,you made us,the fellow Indians proud.

 

[jaiind]

Indian Armed forces personnel certainly has contributed to participate and won medals for India in various olympic and sports events.

 

[Abingdonboy]

It's kinda sad that so many Olympics athletes from India are from the military.

Well the Indian military's ranks are,by nature, filled by people with an adventurous spirit who lean towards these sort of activities. However it is also true the Indian Mil is able to provide the levels of training, support and infrastructure to pursue these actives that aspirants on civvy street will find it next to impossible to get. There is no coherent identification/selection/training/development program in India for sports people outside of Cricket. The talent is there (over 1 billion people ffs!) but not the policies. It's a pretty dismal state of affairs.