Shiva Keshavan finishes 15th in Nations Cup

Lillehammer, Norway, January 30, 2015: In Luge, the fastest sport on ice, athletes have to tune their senses and overcome the fears of the danger posed by the incredibly high speeds and G-forces while negotiating the course in a highly competitive field.

On Friday, Shiva Keshavan did just that as he brought India to a 15th place finish at the Nations Cup in Lillehammer, Norway. In fact he took it a step further. Shiva had suffered a dangerous crash during the official training in which the runners of his sled were completely shattered at over 120 kmph. It was good fortune that ensured Shiva was unhurt, but he was presented with a unique problem for the second time in his career that he had no sled to race with in Friday’s race.

The last time Shiva was faced with an identical situation was at the 2010 Olympic Games. 5 Supreme court lawyers had donated one lakh rupees each to pay for a new sled, which Shiva competed on for the 2010 Games. This time, without the high profile event of the Olympics around the corner and no media to highlight the issue, Shiva was contemplating returning home without being able to compete. That was not to be. His competitors from Norway, who had the necessary spare parts, in a wonderful gesture of sportsman spirit, gave Shiva the replacements he needed.

Overcoming your fears of speed and G-force to negotiate the Luge run is one thing but coming back from a crash two days before the race to post your personal best time if quite another. That was exactly what Shiva did in the race on Friday. A personal best time of 50.654 second on the Norway track. The result qualifies Shiva for the World Cup that will be held on Sunday, and would be a boost to his morale after the crash.

On the phone from Norway, Shiva was quick to brush aside the accident. ”Never Give In is my motto”, he said, ”I have improved my performance a lot this year thanks to my coach Duncan Kennedy. I am sure the best is yet to come.”

This story talks about the courage and determination of an athlete representing India and also the ideal of sportsman spirit shown by competitors towards each other. It is ironic to know that the government of India refused Shiva’s request for financial support for his equipment and Coach while another nation was so generous in their solidarity to another athlete.

Shiva Keshavan will compete in the World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway on Sundaywhere he will cross the 120 kmph speed once again in search for another personal best time while adapting to the spare parts another national team has provided him.

Press release