Don’t tell Shiva Kesavan that India is a wasteland when it comes to winter sports.
He knows it.
He has fought it.
And he is coming to Vancouver to stake a claim at the Winter Olympics.
The 28-year old three-time Olympic luger, will join Tashi Lundup, and Jamyang Namgyal to complete the three-athlete team representing the world’s largest democracy at the 2010 Winter Games.
Lundup an alpine skier and Namgyal who will compete in the cross-country ski event are employed by the Indian Army and stationed at Gulmarg, which is nestled within the imposing Himalayan peaks in the Himlayan and serves as the winter sports capital of India.
This is Keshavan’s fourth Olympics but it’s the first where he has corporate sponsors (Swissair, Limca Book of records, and Reebok) and a full-time coach. The Army men do not have similar support.
Projected as the ”fastest Indian on ice” and likened to the Jamaican bob-sled team made famous with Disney flick, Cool Runnings, Keshavan’s silver medal from the Asian Championships at Nagano illustrates the dogged struggle of an athlete in the face of persistent odds.
Winter sports are not a priority for the Sports Ministry of India, and nor are they popular in the country. In spite of the absence of support or visibility, these sportsmen are driven by their love for the sport and the honour of representing their nation, Indian media reported.
Keshavan announced his readiness for the winter Olympics with a silver medal in the luge event of the Asian Championship in Nagano last year.
It was an improvement from the bronze last time for the three-time Olympian.
He had competed in four World Cups in Canada, Austria, Germany and Norway before the Asian Championship, and has been steadily improving his position to 23rd in the World Cups.
“I had to get the sled in a hurry. I didn’t want to get a new one just before the Olympics. It is very good, and I am confident of tuning it to greater speeds. It has been with me only for two weeks, and it can perform a lot better. The government support has been absolutely fantastic,” said Keshavan after his Asian championship medal in Nagano.
Going into his fourth Olympics in Vancouver, Keshavan said that he would try to use the five World Cups ahead to keep improving his performance and peak at the right time.
“In the Asian championship we had 10 other Indians, including eight juniors. I was dividing my time between my training and taking care of them, as they all look up to me. I hope to keep improving and I have a big target for the Olympics,” said Keshavan.  Keshavan said that it was an honour to get into the Limca Book of Records, to qualify for the Olympic Games in Luge, and to eventually get support from the government.
“A top 20 finish should be on the cards in the Olympics,” said Keshavan, expressing his realistic target for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The secretary of the Indian Amateur Luge Association (IALA), B.S. Varma, said that Shiva Keshavan had achieved a lot on his own steam, suffering a lot along the way, and his efforts would make it easier for the next generation.
In a published interview, 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.
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.
Keshavan’s life was altered forever when a group of Austrian lugers came talent-hunting near his home. One of three boys selected, the International Luge Federation sponsored his trip to Austria on a training programme.