Four-time Winter Olympics participant in luge, Shiva Keshavan, is gearing himself up for next year's Games, his fifth, in Europe and has started training on the ice track after preparing himself physically in summer to withstand the rigours of the sport.
"I feel ready for what is going to be a long training and competition season. There are 9 World Cups scheduled in this year's circuit and the Asian Championships before the Olympics in February (7-23 at the Russian resort of Sochi)," Shiva said from Innsbruck.
"We have worked a lot in the summer to prepare some new materials for this winter and I have been testing them on ice with interesting results. Of course there is a lot to be done and we have limited resources, but with the support of my team and our sponsors we are making good progress," said Shiva through a media statement.
Shiva has already completed two weeks of training in Lillhammer, and another 2 weeks in Albertville, venues of the 1994 and 1992 Olympic Games.
This week is marked by the start of the official events calendar with the International Training Week in Innsbruck, where athletes from all countries are expected to participate.
"It is going to be interesting to match my progress with athletes from all over the world. I will be able to gauge my skill and equipment and see what progress other teams have made," said Shiva.
Assisted by a team of young engineers led by his brother-in law Nalin Agarwal, the 32-year-old Shiva is trying to improve his equipment through scientific research and new materials.
