Karim’s big moment in Sochi

Teenager aims to improve Pakistan’s record in Winter Olympics.

KARACHI:

All eyes would be on Muhammad Karim as he enters the fray as Pakistan’s sole skier at the Winter Olympics today.

After his last training session before the giant slalom event in Sochi, the teenager said that he is excited about his appearance.

“I’m not feeling any pressure and I don’t doubt myself at all,” Karim told The Express Tribune. “I’ve worked hard with my coaches and I’ll perform to my best ability but I’m aware that the level of competition here is extremely high.”

There are professional skiers here from all over the world and it’s just exciting to be around them.”

Karim is the second Pakistani to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Muhammad Abbas had represented the country in 2010, Karim’s target is to improve on the performance of his compatriot.

“I’m aware that the skiers from other countries have better facilities, they trained at better slopes than I did, but our target is to improve on the 79th position out of 103 skiers achieved by Abbas. I’d be happy if I can better his timing as well,” said Karim.

Karim will cover two runs today and the cumulative score will determine his position in the event.

So far, he said that he has drawn strength and inspiration from other athletes in Sochi, besides the prayers of his friends and family.

“The environment in Sochi is helpful. I’ve been training every morning. I interact with other athletes and we help each other by pointing out the mistakes that we are making.”

“I know that I can outpace skiers from India, East Timor and other countries, but the Europeans will be the ones to beat,” said Karim

‘Karim will be the face of Pakistan skiing’

Meanwhile, the coach and SFP’s experienced official Iftikhar Bajwa said that Karim will be the face of Pakistan skiing in the coming years. “I want Karim to have a respectable finish,” he said, who has trained Karim for over a year.

“His biggest positive is that he is brave and eager to take on anything. He is physically very strong. He is young and he wants to learn. He takes instructions well.”

Bajwa said that it was a proud moment for the squad to walk with the national flag in Sochi.

“It’s an inexplicable feeling. All of us worked hard for this. In Pakistan we don’t have enough snow and slopes, the skiing season is short. But we carried on with the dream, we sent Karim to Austria to prepare for Olympics. He qualified after competing in Turkey and Iran. We are here now,” said Bajwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.