KIWG 2026: Karnataka Teen Jiah Aryan Secures Double Podium in Alpine Skiing

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Gulmarg, Feb 24: Karnataka's 17-year-old alpine skier Jiah Aryan turned her second appearance at the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 into a statement performance, clinching two bronze medals in as many days on the challenging Kongdoori slopes.

She opened her campaign with a bronze in Slalom on Day 1 (February 23) and followed it up on Day 2 (February 24) with another bronze in Giant Slalom - proving her consistency across disciplines and underlining her growing stature in Indian alpine skiing.

In an exclusive conversation with myKhel, Jiah spoke about her races, tough snow conditions, competing against seniors, training in Italy, and her ambitions going forward.

"Back-to-Back Medals... Slightly Disappointed"

Despite finishing on the podium twice, Jiah admitted she had mixed feelings after her Giant Slalom run. "Back-to-back medals. Though the colour of the medal is still the same, slightly disappointed," the Bengaluru girl said.

She revealed that she had put herself in a strong position after the first run. "Yeah, because I had quite a good first run. But in the second run I kind of leaned on my inside ski and I spun out a bit because I caught an edge. And I spun out a bit and I just pushed myself back into the track."

The recovery was crucial. Instead of letting the mistake derail her race, she fought through. "So I'm proud of myself nevertheless for still going out there and giving my best and not giving up," the Reliance Foundation athlete added further.

Adapting to Tough Snow Conditions

Weather and snow quality played a decisive role during the competition.

"The track was actually a lot better because we started earlier in the morning. So the snow was hard and compact for the first run." However, as temperatures rose, the surface softened.

"Of course when the Sun comes out for the second run the snow quality goes down. But you work with what you're given. So we're open to that."

Her calm assessment reflected a racer's maturity - adapting to conditions rather than blaming them.

Competing Against the Best

Jiah lined up against established names including Aanchal Thakur and Sandhya Thakur - both of whom represented India at the Winter Asian Games in Harbin last year - along with other strong contenders.

"It is always a pleasure to compete against them especially Anshul, Tanuja, Sandhya, they are amazing and they're good people off the slope and they're wonderful athletes on the slope."

She emphasised the camaraderie within the circuit. "They cheer for you and it's just wonderful to see the sportsmanship being displayed at this level of competition."

KIWG 2026: "The Level Is a Lot Higher"

Jiah missed last year's Winter Games as she was out of the country but was impressed with the professionalism this time.

She felt the overall level had significantly improved compared to previous national competitions, highlighting better course setting and organisation. According to her, the technical nature of the slopes allowed athletes to focus fully on performance while still enjoying the race. Calling Kashmir her "second home," she expressed happiness at returning to Gulmarg.

From Adrenaline Junkie Dad to Alpine Prospect

Jiah has been skiing for seven years and turned professional five years ago. Her introduction to the sport came through her father's love for adventure sports. A military training camp in Gulmarg proved pivotal, where she was identified as a development athlete and groomed through structured pathways.

Balancing academics and sport, she is currently in Class 12 through NIOS. Her mother works in IT with IBM, while her father runs an old age home - a grounded support system behind her alpine ambitions.

Training Base: Kronplatz, Italy

With limited infrastructure in India, Jiah trains primarily in Kronplatz, Italy, during the winter season. Summers are dedicated to gym work, running and strength training to simulate skiing movements and build muscle endurance.

• Her international achievements include:
• Previous bronze at Khelo India
• Silver and bronze in U18 Slalom events in Italy
• Gold at the National Games in Himachal Pradesh
• Gold at the Chinnar Cup
• Silver in her first National Games
• Gold in U16 competition in Serbia

Inspired by Olympian Federica Brignone

Jiah closely followed the Winter Olympics 2026 and looks up to Italian Alpine Federica Brignone, who bagged two gold medals in Cortina. She admires Brignone's comeback from injury and her ability to return to the top level - drawing inspiration from resilience and belief.

A Defining National Platform

For Jiah and her peers, Khelo India is no longer just a sporting festival, it has evolved into a defining national platform. With official accreditation and rising standards, she described it as the "final showdown" for Indian skiers to measure themselves against the country's best.

Two races. Two bronzes. At just 17, Jiah Aryan is building momentum - not just collecting medals, but shaping her trajectory in Indian alpine skiing.