• Shiva Keshavan criticizes India's inadequate support for winter sports.
• Only a handful of athletes represent India in Olympic winter events.
• Calls for official recognition of winter sports to improve funding and support.

Shiva Keshavan, a renowned Indian luger, expresses frustration over the standing of winter sports in India, stating that despite 27 years since his Olympic debut, "Fundamentally, nothing has changed." He highlights that he and Alpine skier Arif Mohammad Khan remain solitary representatives for India in the Winter Olympics, pointing out that "we are still struggling to get off the starting blocks," as athletes succeed "despite the system, not because of the system," according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and SCMP.

Keshavan's observations reflect the grim reality that India has minimal infrastructure for winter sports, with only three indoor ice rinks and one certified Alpine slope available, leading Ice Hockey Association of India’s Secretary General Harjinder Singh to claim, "You cannot practice in a pond and hope to win an Olympic medal in swimming." Furthermore, winter sport federations lack National Sports Federation (NSF) status, which is critical for obtaining government funding, as there are insufficient participating states, reports Channel News Asia, Reuters, and SCMP.

Despite being a cricket-mad nation, Keshavan emphasizes the need for greater public awareness around winter sports, suggesting that without formal recognition, "nothing will change." He reflects on India's long Olympic history in winter sports, noting it took four decades to send its first athlete to the Winter Olympics, and lamenting that no Indian athlete has ever won a medal at these events, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Looking toward the future, the buzz around India's bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics gives Keshavan hope that the country may start to take winter sports more seriously. He states that "the world knows that India is a sleeping giant in sports," as discourse shifts toward hosting major international events and fostering a more comprehensive sports culture that transcends mere medal counts, according to Reuters, and SCMP.

Singh also expresses optimism regarding a new sports bill the government is preparing, which could potentially grant NSF status to winter sport federations, further aiding in their development. “I was asked to give my suggestions. Hopefully something good will come out of this new bill,” Singh remarked, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and SCMP.