Yawar Ali Khan, downhill MTB rider from Jammu, India

MTB

How Yawar Ali Khan had an explosive start to his MTB racing career

The rider from Jammu explains how he got into the sport and how an unexpected first competitive participation set the tone for him as a pro rider.

Written by Yogesh Kumar

5 min readPublished on 10.10.2024 · 15:03 UTC

Yawar Ali Khan’s path to success in downhill mountain biking was unconventional to say the least.

The 26-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir was inspired to get into the sport after playing a video game, which doesn’t fit into the origin story of a lot of professional athletes usually.

Yet, Yawar carved out a space for himself in India's downhill MTB scene by taking bronze at the National Downhill Mountain Bike Championship 2024.

What’s astonishing is that his triumph came just two years after he started MTB racing, proving that grit, determination, and passion always go a long way in sports.

An unusual introduction

Yawar’s tryst with mountain biking began as a prepubescent when he his love for outdoors also extended to his video games.

“I have always been an active child who loved sports and the outdoors. When I was 10 years old, I played a video game called Downhill Domination, and was instantly drawn to the sport. The adrenaline, the speed, and the excitement in the game were what hooked me. It wasn’t long before I wanted to try it out in real life after I got a basic hardtail mountain bike”, says Yawar.

He says that while the adrenaline rush brough him to the sport, it was the liberating feeling that came with riding that kept him inspired to expand his skills.

First steps into competition

While he enjoyed MTB and kept developing his skills, Yawar was not inclined towards participating in races.

That was until 2022, when a close friend registered him for the Jammu and Kashmir XCT MTB Championship in 2022 without informing him. Being the first bike race in which he would participate, Yawar felt there was nothing to lose, and so decided to compete.

“My first competition was a state-level MTB championship, where I placed 2nd. It was a surprise for everyone, because I hadn’t competed before, so no one knew who I was. But it was a massive boost of confidence for me,” says Yawar.

“The competition was intense, and the course was extremely challenging. I remember being both excited and nervous because I knew I was up against some of the best riders in India. To add to the challenges, my bike had a technical problem – the rear brake wasn’t working properly. Additionally, my riding shoes tore, and the tires on the bike were very worn out. Despite all these issues, I was in my element as soon as I got on the track; I was focussed, determined, and rode to the best of my ability. It wasn’t just about the result for me. It was about overcoming all those obstacles and proving to myself that I belonged in that competitive space,” says Yawar.

“After that, I bought my first full-suspension downhill mountain bike in September 2023, and never looked back. Getting the bronze medal in the National Downhill Mountain Bike Championship in April 2024 made me realize how far I had come in two years since I started competing and told me that I was on the right track,” he says excitedly.

How he trains

With a lack of facilities and proper training environments, Yawar has learnt to adapt to his surroundings to tune his skills on the bike.

“I've been training in my own unique way. I practice urban downhill to improve my technical skills. I go for long morning rides for endurance training. Sometimes, when I visit the Kashmir valley, I like to train in the natural elements. It has challenging mountain trails and breathtaking views,” says Yawar.

“I don’t have access to proper trails or facilities, so I get creative with what’s available. In Jammu, I train on urban terrain like stairways, steep alleyways, and rugged city landscapes. It’s not traditional training for mountain biking, but helps me build control, speed, and technical precision in tight spaces. My strength lies in handling technical sections – especially on stairs and corners – and my ability to stay calm and focused under pressure,” he adds.

Yawar is a participant in the first edition of Red Bull Tlang Ruam, an urban downhill mountain biking competition held in Aizawl.

In the lead up to the event, Yawar focussed his training on building physical endurance and mental toughness. He says,

“I always think I can improve my endurance and technical skills – and I worked on those for Red Bull Tlang Ruam – especially training for jumps, riding berms, etc, and particularly for longer courses where stamina is critical," he says.

Hope and optimism

Yawar is very excited about Red Bull Tlang Ruam.

Modelled on international urban downhill mountain biking competitions – like Red Bull Cerro Abajo – Red Bull Tlang Ruam is an opportunity for 20+ invited downhill bike riders to showcase their talent while they ride down a track comprising the steep streets and steps of Aizawl city.

The event – taking place on 26th October 20204 for the first time – will also feature mentorship sessions by international riders Tomas Slavik from Czech Republic, Pedro Burns from Chile and Jeronimo Paez from Argentina.

“Participating in Red Bull Tlang Ruam is my first chance to live my dream, and I'm excited to give it my all. I’m looking forward to competing against some of the top riders in the sport.

”I’ve seen international Red Bull downhill MTB events. The energy and atmosphere at these events – like Red Bull Cerro Abajo – are off the charts. I've always dreamt of being part of that experience,” Yawar says.

Well-defined ambitions

Having taken the big step of committing his career to being a professional mountain biker, Yawar has now set himself bigger targets.

“My goal is to inspire and support emerging riders in India by sharing my experiences and helping to build better infrastructure and opportunities for the sport here.

“I also hope to significantly make an impact in the international downhill mountain biking scene. I want to compete in prestigious international events like Red Bull Hardline, and other global competitions. I think those will be a good challenge for me, and if I do well, it will help raise the profile of mountain biking in India,” Yawar says.