From wooden skis to medals

After winning bronze at 1997 NAtional Winter Games, Lal went to Japan for training. He could not find help or sponsors in India, and this is where the contacts of his coach, Roshan Lal Thakur, in Japan came in handy — the Ski School, Japan sponsored his training.

He represented India in the Amori Asian Games of 2003, and then won two golds at the 2004 Nationals.

‘‘Skiing is a tough discipline, you have to keep improvising on your techiniques everday. So, upsets can come about’’, he says. ‘‘For example, carving is the latest technique Austrian and American skiers have come up with.’’

Hira Lal, though, would be using the more orthodox technique which has been in common use.