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CHANDIGARH : Controversies love Indian sports. So true to form, they chased down the Indian contingent at the ongoing Turin Winter Olympics and generated enough heat on Italian ice Friday night.

At the opening ceremony of the Games, the Indian delegation comprised three athletes and around 10 officials! The star of the contingent, Shiva Keshavan, boycotted the ceremony as a mark of protest against "shameless officials".



Keshavan, who participates in the Luge discipline, was the only Indian at the Nagano Games in 1998 and the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. And, he is the only Indian to have won an medal in winter sports — a silver and a bronze in Asian Winter Games. However, the honour of carrying the flag was given to first-timer skier Neha Ahuja and that has opened a can of worms.

"I was given the impression that I would be the flag bearer, but minutes before the opening ceremony the chef-de-mission told me I have to walk behind Neha. That’s not on. They just can’t humiliate a person who has given the country its first medal in winter sports," Keshavan told TOI from Turin.

"These are shameless people running sports in the country. They never encouraged me... never helped me with my training, travelling and now that I have qualified, they are all here," Keshavan fumed.

Keshavan's protest is just a small part of a bigger picture that raises pertinent questions. Keshavan told TOI that a day before the opening ceremony, the chef-de-mission, RK Gupta, who is also the secretary of Winter Games Federation of India (WGFI), threatened to throw out two skiers Hira Lal (Giant Slalom) and Gurang Bhadur Gupta (Nordic) along with Keshavan out of the Indian team.
Keshavan also alleged that the team has not been provided with any official dress so far and that the athletes were being given only $30 as daily allowance and not $50 as sanctioned by the government. So, the obvious question is: If there are only four athletes at the Games, what are 10 "officials" doing out there? And why are athletes being denied their full quota of allowance?

RK Gupta, when contacted by TOI, said that that there was no rift between Keshavan and him. "Why would I have a problem with him?" he said. When asked why Keshavan was not chosen to carry the flag, said: "He has done that in the last two Olympics. The federation decided to give someone else a chance. What's the big deal."

As for the daily allowance, Gupta said: "There must be a misunderstanding. All four of them will be paid $50 for the time they are here. The government is not obliged to pay for the expenses of foreign coaches. We have also ordered two official India dresses for each athlete. An order for a third one is also been given."

However, Gupta's statement regarding Shiva'scoach contradicts what Col N Kumar told TOI just a few days before he left for Turin. "Since his coach has been cleared by the ministry he is also entitled for the allowance," said Kumar.

http://sport.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1410998,curpg-1.cms

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Keshavan 29th at halfway stage.

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NEW DELHI, Feb 12: India's Shiva Keshavan was placed 29th after two rounds of the men's singles luge event at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Keshavan clocked a total time of 1:46.701 with the final two legs slated to be held later on Sunday.

Keshavan could not make the most of a good start after he struggled at a curve which obstructed his slide.

"I started off well the first run but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the track...I had been having trouble at the curve 15 even during the training runs this week and I could not overcome this obstacle because I was not relaxed enough," Keshavan said.

He finished his first run on the sledge timing 53.729 but made amends in the second by clocking 52.972. "The second run was much better. I told myself to relax and concentrate. My finish time was one second better than the first. I hope to further improve tomorrow," he said.

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India’s first winter Olympian on his conflict with the Winter Games Federation of India

What was your problem with the WGFI?
People heading sports federations are looting the country's resources. The youth must fight and throw these corrupt officials out.

For our four athletes, how many officials joined the delegation?
Eight at the Olympic Village and several outside.

Why were you not allowed to carry the flag during the opening ceremony?
I was given the impression that I would be the flag-bearer until the last moment.

Did the officials threaten to throw you out of the team before the Torino games began?
It was a recurrent show of authority. Even coaches and assistants were repeatedly threatened.

How much financial support did you receive from them between '02-06?
Nothing from WGFI. The Himalayan Ski Village was the first private institution to support winter Olympians. For the first time, the sports ministry helped.

What about your showing at the games?
I could've done better in the first heat if I had been more relaxed but I put down three solid runs and gained five positions in the second.

Why do you practice in Italy?
They don't allow foreigners on the Olympic track. I had to train in other European countries.

How did you get into luge?
Destiny. How else could I explain being invited to a luge camp by an ex-luge world champion?

Advice for kids interested in winter sports?
Nothing is impossible.

The Sports Illustrated called you a winner of hearts.
I've competed with the aim to win. I guess that won a lot of sympathy from the fans in Italy.

http://www.outlookindia.com/10Question.asp?fodname=20060313&secname=Sports