Luger Shiva Keshavan is the lone torchbearer of a little-known sport
Imagine being the lone representative in one Olympics sport from a nation of over one billion. Sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? But that is exactly what Shiva Keshavan did in 1998, when he represented India at the Winter Olympics as a 16-year-old. Although the idea of being alone in a foreign land is daunting, Keshavan says that carrying the national flag as a teenager was one of the most memorable experiences he has ever had.
Of course, there aren’t many who have heard of Keshavan or, for that matter, the discipline he competes in. Keshavan is a luger and has quite a few distinctions to his name. He is the only Indian to have competed in three Winter Olympics and has a medal to his name at the Asian Luge Championships, seeded 42 in the world.
Yet his sporting life has been full of struggle. Born in Vashisht, a small village near Manali, Keshavan first heard of luge back in 1996, when the International Luge Federation (FIL) sent their official coach, Gunter Lemmerer, on a talent-search programme to India. A training camp was held at Panchkula, organised by the Indian Amateur Luge Association (IALA — yes, we have a federation for luge as well!).
Keshavan, at that point of time, was at Lawrence School, Sanawar, and went for the camp. The coach was impressed by what he saw and offered him a two-week training programme in Europe. And this time it was on ice and not road!
It was during this programme that Keshavan thought of taking it up as a professional sport. Knowing that not many people would have heard of the sport in the country, and that there aren’t many places where he could practise, what was he thinking, I question? “I never wanted to take it up for fame or wealth,” he says. It was just for the love of the sport.
Not surprisingly, fame and wealth continue to elude him. Not that he has any regrets. He does, however, feel that there should have been some support from the government or sponsors.
For the first seven or eight years of his professional life, he supported himself. It was only two years ago that he got some support from SwissAir International, and then the Limca Book of Records. “It was frustrating, as I had to start from scratch, telling them about the sport in detail,” he says. By the time he began to tell the sponsors about himself, he laughs, they had lost interest in the conversation.
To add to Keshavan’s woes, luge is an expensive sport. The cost of luge gear runs in to several lakhs of rupees, and that’s why he has had to run from pillar to post to meet his expenses.
Keshavan is all smiles now, but the frustration in his voice is more than evident. With a change in the management at the IALA, he is more upbeat about the game getting more recognition.
Since the sport thrives where there’s enough snowfall, how does he manage to train in hot India? His training is divided into two phases: summer and winter. His summer training involves regular things like muscle toning and power training. He is into meditation as well to keep his concentration levels high. Winter training includes technical aspects, which means training on the tracks. Since each track is technically very different, one needs to have sound knowledge of each. “I am either in Japan or Europe to do my winter training,” he says.
Keeping in mind that the sport rarely gets any mention, is there any resentment on his part? “It’s every athlete’s dream to participate in the Olympic Games, and I have realised it not once or twice, but thrice, so the question of resentment doesn’t arise at all”, he says. Yes, he would have liked more support from the authorities as well as corporate sponsors. Considering that he is more or less a pioneer in the sport, as far as India is concerned, it’s baffling that there hasn’t been much backing for his cause.
Keshavan, who studied international relations and political science in Italy, has plans to develop winter sports in the country. He runs a small consultancy and is more than willing to offer advice on how the sport could be promoted in the country. “In states like Himachal and Uttaranchal, there is a need to make it more popular than just a recreational activity,” he says.
Next year, Keshavan heads off to Vancouver to participate in the Winter Olympics. And, this time, his aim is to bring a medal back for the country. Perhaps then people will take note of his achievements, and there will be an end to his struggles. “Don’t bet high on it though,” he signs off. He means recognition — not the medal!
