Four-time Winter Olympian luger Shiva Keshavan is gearing up for the first World Cup along with the Olympic qualification, which starts next week in Norway, in his bid to represent the country for a record fifth time in the quadrennial event in Sochi in 2014.
"The athletes from all the countries are in top form and geared up for the season. The first World Cup and the Olympic Qualification starts next week in Norway," Shiva said from Sochi.
With three months left for the Winter Games, the heat is building up in the cold Caucasian mountains in Russia. Over 35 countries and 150 athletes have gathered in Krasnaya Polyana to train at the Sanki Olympic Sliding Centre.
The Games has two main venues, the Coastal Cluster events will be held in the coastal town of Sochi, and the Mountain Cluster events at Krasnaya Polyana, connected to Sochi by a 20-minute ultra high speed train.
Shiva, who has already completed two weeks of training in Lillhammer, and another two weeks in Albertville, venues of the 1994 and 1992 Olympic Games, expressed happiness with the facility at the Sanki Sliding Centre.
"It was good to test the ice here in Sochi prior to the World Cup season. The conditions here are great and being here served to bring my focus on my main goal this winter," said the current Asian Champion in Luge and the holder of Asian Speed and Track record.
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.
The team is working on the aerodynamic design and vibration absorption, which will help him gain the few tenths of a second that currently separate Manali-born Shiva and an Olympic medal.
