Shiva Keshavan to be flag-bearer of 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin

A few minutes before the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Shiva Keshavan was informed that rookie Neha Ahuja would be India’s flag-bearer. Keshavan opted out of the opening ceremony in protest as he felt humiliated, especially after he was nominated as the team’s flag-bearer in Turin.

In Vancouver, however, the luger could be spared of that humiliation. “I’ve been confirmed as the flag-bearer for Friday’s ceremony,” Keshavan told DNA from Vancouver, where he was preparing for the luge event of the Games which will be held on February 13 and 14. The Games close on February 28.

Before leaving for the Games, Keshavan had told DNA that it will be an honour to be the country’s flag bearer. India will field a three-member contingent at the Games.

While the dust over his dispute with the Winter Games Federation of India has settled, his preparations have been far from smooth.

He suffered a stress fracture on his vertebrae during his silver-medal winning effort in Asian Luge Championship in December in Nagano, Japan. It meant that he was out of action for three weeks. And no sooner he got back to training last month, than he broke his sled.

But the injuries have not dampened the spirits of the veteran Olympian, who has already participated in three Winter Games. “I just told my doctor I’ve been training for this for four years. ‘Do what you want to get me back on track’,” said the 28-year-old Himachal Pradesh native.