In the winter of 2014, Basharat Ahad Mir, barely 12 then, would pedal 50 odd kilometres from his home in Parimpora on Srinagar outskirts all the way to winter resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district to practice ice-skating there in sub-zero temperatures.
Seven years down the line, Mir has emerged as the first Kashmiri to represent India at international level in ice skating at the young age of 18, thanks to his unwavering passion for the sport.
Mir was a part of the four-member team, which won the International Skating Union trophy in Belarus in the year 2019.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Mir did his schooling from Burn Hall School in the city.
In an exclusive chat with Greater Kashmir, the young professional recalled how he would practice on the ice in the harsh winter in Gulmarg even in the dead of night which at times, caused him several health problems, but didn’t deter his determination though.
Although he has actively participated in other sports including cycling, roller skating and even won medals both at state and national level, Mir embraced ice skating as a full time profession given its Olympics prospect.
But excelling in the sport has not been a cake-walk for the teenager given the below par equipment and lack of professional coaching in the field in Kashmir altogether.
“I am a self-taught ice-skater. There was no one here in Kashmir who would teach me about the game. It was only after I failed in a few events and competitions, I was pushed to learn things from the scratch. I took the help of the Internet and studied the game very well,” he recalled.
Mir believes that the game is not just about making optimum use of the skating equipment, but one has to be very focused on good nutrition as well.