The Saudi Arabian delegation arrives at the Harbin International Conference, Exhibition and Sports Center for the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games on Friday. WEI XIAOHAO/CHINA DAILY
Waving the Saudi Arabian flag at the opening ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, was not a new experience for Fayik Abdi. As the first Winter Olympian from Saudi Arabia, he had done it once before at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics three years ago.
"This time, it wasn't as cold, since the ceremony was held indoors," Abdi recalls.
The 27-year-old alpine skiing trailblazer competed in the men's slalom on Sunday, but did not finish. Still, he considers his first Winter Asiad and second visit to China to be a memorable experience. With Saudi Arabia set to host the next edition of the Asian Winter Games in 2029, Abdi is eager to return to the competition — and to do so on home snow.
Taking the bullet train from Yabuli to Harbin for the Games' opening ceremony, Abdi said this visit gave him a deeper understanding of China. When he first came for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, he didn't get the chance to wander around or interact more with Chinese people due to the strict pandemic prevention restrictions.
This time, after arriving in Beijing, he had the chance to experience more of the local culture-including trying hotpot with friends in both cities.
"It was really nice. I'd never had that before," he said.
Abdi has trained at Yabuli Sports Training Base three times, and praised the venue. "The terrain is great — it offers a bit of everything. The snow is very aggressive, different from Europe, so it takes some time to adjust," he noted.
His stay in China was brief, as he departed for Austria after his competition finished to compete in the Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Looking ahead, Abdi hopes to see more international winter sports competitions in China, calling it a large and rapidly growing market for the sport. He looks forward to returning in the future.
Abdi's mother, an avid skier herself, was also his first coach. When he was 4, she began taking him to Lebanon's Faraya ski resort, where she introduced him to the sport. Those early trips sparked a lifelong passion for skiing.
"It's very technical and competitive and it's a lot of fun at the same time. It's a good mixture of a lot of different things."
Abdi said he is thrilled that Saudi Arabia will host the next Asian Winter Games and is committed to staying fit so he can participate on home snow.
"I look forward to representing my country at the 2029 Asian Winter Games, and hopefully, we'll see more Saudi athletes participating," he said. "We're working on that, and I believe we're on the right track to make it happen."
He sees the event as a historic milestone not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the entire West Asian region, potentially inspiring other countries to participate in the Games.
"It's a groundbreaking event," he said. "I expect a high level of competition and hope to see more alpine skiing events, including slalom, giant slalom, and possibly super-G."
Abdi believes Saudi Arabia needs indoor skiing facilities in its cities to make the sport more accessible and encourage greater participation.
Fayik Abdi, Saudi alpine skier.
"With an indoor facility, skiing or snowboarding could become a regular after-school activity for kids," he said.
Having spent much of his time training and competing in Europe, Abdi hopes that, as winter sports grow in Saudi Arabia, he will one day be able to train at home.
For Abdi, being Saudi Arabia's first Winter Olympian comes with a sense of responsibility.
"Now, I'm focused on improving as a skier and staying competitive, but I'm also thinking about how to inspire the next generation and attract more athletes to the sport," he said.
He hopes to see others follow in his footsteps before he retires. "It would be disappointing if no one takes on the role after me. I want to see athletes stepping up and forming a team while I'm still competing."
The "Fayik Effect" is already paying dividends, as the Harbin Games also played host to Saudi's first female alpine skiers, Joud Farhoud and Sharifa Al-Sudairi. Both women were inspired to reach out to the Saudi Snow Sports Federation after seeing Adbi compete in the giant slalom in Beijing.
"Of course it was very exciting for me, because it was the first time I heard of a Saudi alpine skier," Farhoud said.
While the pair failed to medal in Harbin, with Farhoud finishing 19th and Al-Sudairi posting a DNF in the women's slalom on Saturday, they are both hoping to become the first women to represent Saudi at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
"It would be a monumental achievement," Al-Sudairi said, adding: "It would not only be a personal dream come true, but also a significant milestone for women in sports in my country."
After his career, Abdi aims to pass on his experience and guide young skiers through training and competition. "I'm passionate about the sport, and it would be an honor to support the next generation in any way I can," he said.
Beyond Saudi Arabia, he hopes to help grow alpine skiing globally. "It's a small sport with a close-knit community. I feel a responsibility not just to my country, but to the world to help it grow."
Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn
