by Shahzad Wagay and Saqib Khursheed
SRINAGAR: In the snowbound Mushko Valley of Drass, 12-year-old Mohammad Irfan is carving his path into the world of skating—one glide at a time. Just 7 km from Drass town in Ladakh, Mushko is among the coldest inhabited places on Earth. Amid sub-zero temperatures and lack of infrastructure, Irfan has been practising skating for three years, inspired not by a coach or a local club, but by videos on social media.
“I am the only skater in my village. I chose skating over cricket after watching videos online,” he said. With no skating rinks or formal training facilities in Mushko, Irfan trains along the roadside, carefully avoiding traffic. During peak winter, he travels to Kargil to skate on ice at a local centre. “I learned skating at the Kargil centre. My father brought these shoes from Kashmir,” he added, pointing to his worn-out gear.
Life in Mushko during winter is harsh. Most residents migrate to places like Kangan or Jammu to escape the cold. But Irfan stays back, braving the elements to pursue his passion.
In 2023, he secured second place in a skating competition held at the Kargil War Memorial—a moment that, he says, boosted his confidence and strengthened his resolve. “Skating is more than a sport for me. It’s my passion. I want to make a career out of it and make my parents proud,” he said.
Despite the absence of basic amenities, Irfan’s commitment stands out. “I follow traffic rules and always skate on the roadside to avoid any mishap,” he said. With dreams of competing at the state and national levels, Irfan is determined to move forward.
