Neha Ahuja

Neha Ahuja[1] (born September 27, 1981) is an Indian alpine skier who represented India in the 2006 Winter Olympics held in Torino, Italy. Ahuja was also the flag bearer in the opening and closing ceremonies. She has achieved several milestones in skiing for India. She is the first Indian woman to have qualified for the Winter Olympics.[2] She is also the first woman to qualify for both the slalom and giant slalom events in the Olympics.[3] Ahuja was one of the four Indians competing at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. She placed 51st.[4] Her older sister Shefali Ahuja represented India in the 3rd Winter Asian games held in Harbin, China, and her younger sister Swati Ahuja participated in the fourth season of MTV Roadies.

Neha Ahuja (2006).

Early life

Ahuja was born in New Delhi to Anita Ahuja (née Wadhwa) and Colonel S.P. Ahuja, an officer in the Indian Border Security force.[5] Ahuja's father was also the director of winter sports in Gulmarg and was the principal of the Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering.[6] At the age of four, Ahuja and her family moved to Kashmir due to her father’s posting, and that was when she first learnt to ski.[7]

In 1994, she participated in a two-week training camp under Otto Santner and Peter Santner at the Thayer Racing Club, Kaprun, Austria, which encouraged her to continue her career ass a skier. Soon after, she began training under Kazuo Sato in order to participate in the 1996 Junior Asian Winter Games being held in Japan.[8] At the age of 16, Ahuja moved to Vail, Colorado and trained at the Vail Mountain School for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.[9] After sustaining a knee injury that year while training, she could not perform physical activity for six months. As a result, she could not participate in the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. A year later, however, she competed in the Winter Asian Games (2003).[10]

She then trained under Dietmar Thoni at the Bartsch Race Academy, Pitztal, Austria for the 2006 Winter Olympics.[11]

In 1999, she graduated from Air Force Bal Bharti, and in 2003, she graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder. Additionally, she was a competitive swimmer and swam at the Delhi state level. She was also a national level diver.[12]

Personal life

Ahuja has two sons. She currently works as a Strategy Consultant at a major firm. She now plays tennis and skies recreationally.[13]

Picture of Neha Ahuja taken in 2019.

Indian Winter Olympic Alpine Skiing Results from 1964 to 2006

Indian Winter Olympic Alpine Skiing Results from 1964 to 2006

Year Event Athlete Age Finish
1964 Men's Downhill Jeremy Bujakowski 24 AC
1968 Men's Downhill Jeremy Bujakowski 28 53
1968 Men's Slalom Jeremy Bujakowski 28 AC+
1968 Men's Giant Slalom Jeremy Bujakowski 28 65
1988 Women's Slalom Shailaja Kumar 21 28
1988 Men's Slalom Gul Dev 24 AC
1988 Men's Slalom Kishor Rahtna Rai 23 49
1992 Men's Slalom Lal Chuni 21 61
1992 Men's Slalom Nanak Chand 20 58
1992 Men's Giant Slalom Nanak Chand 20 82
1992 Men's Giant Slalom Lal Chuni 21 AC
2006 Men's Giant Slalom Hira Lal 25 AC
2006 Women's Slalom Neha Ahuja 24 51
2006 Women's Giant Slalom Neha Ahuja 24 42

References
  1. "Neha AHUJA - Olympic Alpine Skiing | India". International Olympic Committee. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  2. Baldwin, Alan (23 February 2006). "Ahuja makes her mark in winter Olympics". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  3. Farnell, Shauna (22 February 2006). "51st place just fine with Neha Ahuja". www.vaildaily.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. Farnell, Shauna (22 February 2006). "51st place and smiling". www.aspentimes.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. Baldwin, Alan (23 February 2006). "Ahuja makes her mark in winter Olympics". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  6. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. Farnell, Shauna (22 February 2006). "51st place just fine with Neha Ahuja". www.vaildaily.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  8. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  11. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  12. Bhatia, Surbhi (January 2006). "Skiing is the limit". New Delhi: Educare. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  13. Tzerman, Sheila (18 November 2005). "Charlotte woman paved way for Indian women in Olympics". www.charlotteobserver.com. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
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