Winter Olympics opening ceremony: India's lone participant Arif Khan leads six-member contingent

During the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing on Friday, skier Arif Khan led the Indian presence amid the country's diplomatic boycott of the event.

The 31-year-old Arif is the only contestant in Winter Olympics from India after qualifying for the Slalom and Giant Slalom events.

Also read: Alpine Skier Arif Khan: India's only athlete at the 2022 Winter Olympics

A coach, a technician, and a team manager were among the six members of India's delegation to the Games.

Arif is the first Indian to qualify for two events in the same edition of the Games, which he will compete in on February 13 and 16.

During the grand ceremony at the iconic Bird's Nest stadium, India was the 23rd contingent to walk in as China welcomed athletes from 84 countries amid a diplomatic boycott by powerful nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom over alleged human rights violations in the Xinjiang region.