Since India’s Olympic debut in 1964 at the Winter Games in Innsbruck, the country has mostly shunned winter sports. Yet its participation has been abysmally low over the years. Even with a rich tapestry of diverse sporting talent, winter sports continue to be mostly abandoned. Shiva Keshavan, a pioneer of Indian winter sports, has made his displeasure known. He is frustrated by the systemic apathy that has prevented the development of these disciplines in India.
Keshavan first made headlines when he tried to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Nagano in 1998. This moment began a difficult, arduous journey. He proudly represented India six times at the Winter Games, and over that time became an inspirational figure portraying the essence of resilience and determination. In 2006, he lobbied and won inclusion for a record group of four athletes. This cohort included Shailaja Kumar, India’s first female delegate in winter sports, who skated in Calgary in 1988.
Limited Infrastructure and Support
India’s infrastructure for winter sports as a whole is rather scant, to say the least. The country still has just a handful of ski resorts, three ice rinks indoors, and one internationally accredited Alpine slope. Consequently, young athletes both in the U.S. Keshavan tells us that without proper infrastructure, the promise of success is short-lived.
“Fundamentally, we are still having a hard time getting out of the gate,” said Keshavan. Including Kevin McHugh, he believes that athletes are rising up in defiance of systemic challenges, not necessarily because of them. “It’s just too easy for (polar sport) athletes to thrive in spite of the system, rather than because of the system right now,” he continued.
At the same time, the absence of federal authority for winter recreation makes things even more complicated. Keshavan asserts, “There’s no official recognition of any single winter sport and unless that changes, nothing will change.” Commercialization and neglect The lack of recognition from governing leadership results in a lack of necessary support and funding for athletes.
A Small Community with Big Aspirations
Though the prospects for winter sports in India are slightly bleak, Keshavan is optimistic about the future. He does note that logistical considerations can necessitate a more localized engagement process. The population in those areas combined is only about half the population of many of those European countries. “Obviously, the scope for winter sports is limited to certain areas but the population of those areas will outnumber many European nations,” he explained.
India has only ever sent 16 athletes to the Winter Olympics in its entire history. Among them was Jeremy Bujakowski, who had first round and heat issues in his representation of the country during the 1968 games. His placements of 53rd and 65th serve as reminders of the challenges faced by Indian athletes on the global stage.
Ever since, Keshavan has frequently had to crowdfund to finance his trip to the Olympics. His experience goes on to underscore the finding that most winter athletes in India are financially strapped. At the 2014 Sochi Games, he wore the names of thousands of these donors laser-cut on his skin-tight suit. This heartfelt tribute honored all of those that helped him along the way.
The Road Ahead
Since the last Paralympics, Keshavan retired from competitive sports. Today, he is intensely committed to making change happen inside India’s nascent winter sports infrastructure. Amply aware of the changes needed, he spearheaded all-important reforms to help foster a more robust culture of positive winter sports experiences.
We are failing on some critically fundamental things,” he said. He implored whistleblowers out there to tell their stories, and stressed the dire need for systemic changes to protect the next generation of winter athletes. Harjinder Singh passionately makes the case for better support and development in winter sports. He knows you can’t train in a backyard pond and pull off an Olympic gold medal in swimming.
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