Shiva Keshavan hopes for fresh start to winter games administration in India
On the day when the Indian flag finally fluttered at Sochi, Indian luger Shiva Keshavan called for good governance and better facilities for the future of winter games.
Elated after tri-colour was hoisted at the Sochi Games Village, Indian luger Shiva Keshavan on Sunday, hoped for a new beginning in sports governance in the country. (Indian flag raised at Winter Olympics village at Sochi)
"Politics and national flag should be kept separate. We just hope now for good governance and better facilities," Keshavan said after the Indian flag was raised at the games venue on Sunday.
Newly-elected Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran was also present at the ceremony in Rosa Khutor.
Keshavan, Himanshu Thakur and Nadeem Iqbal took part in the opening ceremony on February 7 under the IOC flag as they entered the Games as Independent Olympic Participants.
But after the IOC lifted the suspension on IOA following an election last week, they will be able to walk under the tri-colour at the closing ceremony slated for February 23.
"It is a symbolic change but now we want to see real change. We need to see improvements in winter sports. They have the power to make a difference and they will start with a clean slate," said the 33-year-old.
Keshavan finished a disappointing 37th in the men's singles luge competition on February 9.