Shiva Keshavan is an Indian Luge Player, who represented the country five times in Olympics and is the first Indian to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The player was born on 25th August 1981, in Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Career
Shiva Keshavan started his career in luge at the age of 15 where he was selected at a training camp in Himachal. By then he had already won the Junior National Ski Championship at the age of 14. He was the youngest person to officially qualify for the Olympics games in luge and holds a world record for the same.
The bundle of energy holds an Asian Speed Record at 134.3 km/h and track record at 49.590 seconds. Keshavan won Bronze Medal in the Asian Luge Cup (2005 and 2008), Silver medal (2009) and Gold Medal (2011 and 2012). He also won NDTV Outstanding performer of the year award in the year 2012.
He has also been nominated for the Arjuna Award, by the government of India in 2012 and for the Parshuram Award by the Government of Himachal Pradesh. Keshavan’s father is an Indian and mother is from Italy and was born and brought up in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. He completed his studies in humanities and political science and did his Master’s degree in International relations from the University of Florence.
Shiva teamed up with Duncan Kennedy in 2014 to coach him and train him for 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
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Awards and achievements:
Arjuna Award, Government of India - nominee, 2012
Parshuram Award, Government of Himachal Pradesh - nominee, 2012
NDTV Outstanding performer of the year award- winner, 2012
Asian Luge cup – Gold Medal, 2011 & 2012
Asian Luge cup – Silver Medal, 2009
Asian Luge cup – Bronze Medal, 2005 & 2008
Youngest luge Olympian in history - 1998 Winter Olympics
First Indian luger to qualify for the Winter Olympic Games
