Indian sports authorities will hold an investigation into the ugly infighting that has wracked the three-man team from India at the Winter Olympiad in Vancouver.
Various sources told the South Asian Post that reports have been filed with the Indian Olympic Committee and other sports bodies on the debacle that has Canada’s Indo-community in an uproar.
“It’s a bloody disgrace,” said R.K. Kumar who had gone up to Whistler to watch Indian luger Shiva Keshavan to finish 29th on the troubled track.
“This is the first time Team India is performing before a huge diaspora and all they do is fight…I am ashamed,” said the businessman.
Others in the three man team included Jamyang Namgial, 24, competing in Giant Slalom on February 21, and Tashi Lundup, 25, who competed in the 15 km cross country event on February 15.   Both men joined the Indian Army as teenagers and learned to ski as part of their duties patrolling the Indian Tibetan border in the Himalayas.
Keshavan, 28, is a luger and the team’s captain.  He is the most experienced competitor in the group, having won 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in previous meets at the Asian Games.
This is his 4th Winter Olympic Games.
And like before, Keshavan ignited a controversy even before the Olympic torch was lit.
Keshavan made loud claims that the contingent did not have coordinated uniforms, prompting the local South Asian community to raise $8,000 for uniforms for the Indian athletes.
Local broadcaster Shushma Datt rallied the community with an event hosted by her station RJ1200 to help support the athletes. Sports Unlimited owner TJ Johal provided the uniforms.
Keshavan then blasted Chef-de-mission R.K. Gupta for being ineffective, calling for his resignation and threatened to open a “can of worms” on his return.
Lashing out at Gupta, Keshavan said, “India really needs to send more capable people as chef-de-mission, or at least give a course on how to behave abroad and how to organise.
“If even after attending three Olympic Games Mr Gupta feels that he does not understand or cannot handle his job, he should either get a subordinate who can or simply offer his resignation,” the luger said.
Keshavan and his father, in Vancouver as a coach, appeared in different attire at the opening ceremony, claiming the uniform given to them was of poor quality, a charge Gupta dismissed later.
“We did get some uniforms from R K Gupta but they were horrible quality bordering on disgraceful,” Keshavan said.
“On top of that, everyone was not given the same uniform and some were given none altogether. That’s the reason we were not wearing same clothes during the ceremony,” he said.
“Some local businessmen offered to sponsor a good opening ceremony uniform for the team and this was accepted by our chef-de-mission. However, when some Canadian media misrepresented the news as charity rather than sponsorship they were unhappy and did not accept the clothes,” Keshavan said.
Criticising Gupta’s role, Keshavan said, “I think it is time that the sports authorities take strict action on who they chose as chef-de-missions and officials representing India.”
Keshavan also threatened to spill the beans on his return to India.
“There would be countless things to specify but now is not the time for that. From facilities not provided to the people staying at the village in the guise of officials. I will be happy to give all my views and open this can of worms once I return,” he said.
Gupta, however, dismissed the allegation and rejected the donated money, insisting that the team had uniforms provided by the ministry.
“Shiva thinks he is greater than India and is maligning the image of the country by claiming that the team don’t have coordinated uniform. He didn’t speak to us regarding it. We didn’t have a clue.
“We had proper attires worth Rs 29,000 each provided by the IOA and the ministry and there is no confusion in that. We have even spoken to Shiva but he wants to go the other way,” Gupta said.
“We have never demanded for any kind of financial help from anyone in Canada. We are honoured to represent India at Vancouver 2010 and we don’t need any money, especially when it is a charity,” he added.
Muddasir Mir, coach and media officer of the Indian contingent blamed Keshavan for giving wrong statements to the media and creating confusion.
“This is all due to wrong statements of Shiva Keshavan. Since his father didn’t have the uniform, he also decided not to wear the proper uniform during the opening ceremony. We had organised a press conference to clarify our stand but no press has published that statement,” he said.
In a release Gupta gave a detailed description of the funds provided by the ministry to clarify their stand.
“Our Luge Athlete (Keshavan) was sponsored by Limca Book of Records and Swiss International Airlines while most of his expenses were self borne; IOC also gave a scholarship for two years.
“For this Olympic Winter Games, the Ministry for sports has also contributed $20000 towards his travel and equipment. Indian NOC and Ministry of Sports, Govt of India provided us reasonably sufficient funds for Uniform and Other Kits for attending the Games,” the release said.
Keshavan is no stranger to controversy.
In a published interview before Vancouver 2010, Keshavan said 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.
“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 said.
At the last winter Olympics in Turin, Keshavan blasted “shameless” Indian officials after a blazing row which prompted his withdrawal from the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Keshavan, pulled out in protest after accusing the officials of piggy-backing on his success.
“I pulled out of the opening ceremony because it was my way of protesting. There were some officials who turned up at the Olympic village that I’ve never seen in six years claiming to be the representatives of the Indian Luge Association,” he said.
“This organisation has always been a non-functioning organisation. They have even told me to go and represent another country and that it would be easier for me because they couldn’t offer me any funding or take responsibility for any mishaps.
“Then when I qualify for the Olympics these people turn up, and for what? They are shameless.”