Winter Olympics Begin in Italy, At Least One Indian to Compete at Milano Cortina Games

The 2026 Winter Olympics have begun in northern Italy, with competitive action starting ahead of the formal Opening Ceremony. Mixed doubles curling in Cortina d’Ampezzo was among the first events to get underway, signalling the early start of the Milano Cortina Games .

The Winter Olympics will officially run from February 6 to February 22 , with competitions spread across Milan, Cortina and other Alpine venues. More than a hundred medal events across disciplines including alpine skiing, cross country skiing, skating, ice hockey and biathlon are scheduled over the next two weeks.

India’s presence at the Games, however, remains limited and uncertain. While the country was initially set to field two athletes in separate disciplines, confirmation is in place for only one competitor as legal and administrative questions persist over the second entry.

Arif Mohammad Khan is the only confirmed Indian participant and will represent the country in alpine skiing , including the men’s slalom event. The Gulmarg-based skier, who also competed at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, brings valuable experience and remains India’s sole assured presence on the slopes.

The participation of Stanzin Lundup in cross country skiing remains unclear following a recent Delhi High Court order that questioned the selection process for India’s quota. While official Olympic entry lists continue to include his name, final clarity on whether he will compete is still awaited amid administrative deliberations.

As the Winter Olympics gather pace, India may ultimately be represented by just one athlete. Despite the uncertainty, the Games mark another challenging chapter for Indian winter sports, with limited infrastructure and narrow qualification pathways continuing to shape the country’s Olympic presence.