luge athlete Kesavan hopes ban on India is lifted before Sochi Olympics
India’s top winter sports athlete hopes his country’s Olympic suspension will be lifted in time for him to represent his nation at the Winter Games in Sochi.
“It will be a matter of pride for me to hold India’s flag,” luge competitor Shiva Kesavan said on Wednesday. “It would be shameful if Indian athletes are denied this due to bad or unethical governance.”
The Indian Olympic Association was suspended in December last year.
If the suspension is not lifted before the Sochi Games, which run from Feb. 7-23, Kesavan and other Indian athletes will not be able represent India. They will be eligible to compete in Sochi, but only as independent athletes under the Olympic flag.
The IOA has announced Feb. 9 as a tentative date of elections but the Winter Games Federation of India has called for the polls to be held at least a week earlier so that Kesavan and other athletes can represent India in Sochi.
Kesavan, who goes into his fifth Winter Olympics, said the essence of the games is “to represent” one’s country.
“It is a matter of pride and belonging. It is also embarrassing when a country like ours is suspended on moral and ethical grounds,” said the 32-year-old Kesavan, who has been competing in the United States and Japan in recent weeks.
“It is the athletes who are the face of the country during sporting events, and it is we who answer the questions,” said Kesavan, who hopes to win India’s first medal at the Winter Olympics despite struggling with finances in the run-up to the games.
“I am aiming to put in all that I have, with nothing less than the gold medal in sight. However, realistically, given all the limitations I have faced, I hope I can achieve a personal best at the games, which will pave the way” for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Four Indians qualify
They may not take part under the tri-colour due to the suspension of the IOA but four Indians have so far qualified for the February 7-23 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
Keshavan, in luge, Nadeem Iqbal in cross country skiing and Hira lal and Himanshu Thakur, both in Alpine skiing, have qualified for the Games.
Winter Games Federation of India Secretary General Roshan lal Thakur said that another athlete Aanchal Thakur has also been trying hard to make it to the Games by taking part in qualifying events in Europe.
“Keshavan qualified for the Winter Games last year and he is taking part in the Games for the fifth time. Nadeem Iqbal qualified a few months back in an event in France and Hira lal and Himanshu Thakur qualified just a few days back in Turkey,” Thakur said.