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Shiva Keshavan continues to fight a lonely battle
One lone dream flickers on in the vastness of the wasteland that winter sports in India denote. Shiva Keshavan’s silver medal last week from the Asian Championships at Nagano illustrates the dogged struggle of an athlete in the face of persistent odds, report Shubhodeep Chakravarty.
One lone dream flickers on in the vastness of the wasteland that winter sports in India denote. Shiva Keshavan’s silver medal last week from the Asian Championships at Nagano illustrates the dogged struggle of an athlete in the face of persistent odds.
Hurtling down a narrow icy track at speeds in excess of 150 kph without any brakes on the sled, sums up Shiva’s sport — luge.
The only contact between the pilot and the ice is via a few inches of sharpened steel that digs in to carve traction as inertia and gravity look to tame the sled’s flight.
Keshavan has competed against some of the best teams in three World Cups this season. His eyes are now set on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year.
A new sled, support staff and an intensive training programme on account of backing by his sponsors — Swiss Air and Limca Book of Records — have improved his confidence. “Coach Yann Friechteau from France and I have a tie-up with the Austrian team.
The preparations have been going well but I don’t want any sports body to take undue credit for my achievements,” he says.
The Indian Amateur Luge Federation and Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), which are responsible for managing the sport in the country, have been completely unsupportive, claims Keshavan. “The associations have existed for over 20 years.”
Yet, I am the only luger from the country. It goes to show the lack of work they have put in.
WGFI, which is under the sports ministry, has hardly given any support,” he says.
With teams like the German national squad who have sleds designed and tested by automobile giants, Porsche, the Olympics will be an uphill task for the 42nd ranked Keshavan even though corporate support has proved to be a lifeline for the three-time Olympian.
“In my sport milliseconds define the line between being at the podium and at the bottom. It is tough to excel without the budget to customise top-notch equipment.
However, I can only keep going out there and keep trying harder,” says the 28-year-old man from Manali.
