India's campaign in Winter Olympics ends

Pyeongchang, February 17: India's campaign in the 2018 Winter Olympics ended after Jagdish Singh finished a dismal 103rd in the men's 15-km free cross-country skiing race.

Making his Olympic debut, the 26-year old recorded a timing of 43.03 minutes to cross the finish line at the Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Pyeongchang.

He finished at 103rd out of a total number of 119 competitors. The event was won by Switzerland's Dario Cologna, who was 9:16.4 minutes quicker than Jagdish to claim the Olympic gold.

India’s Jagdish Singh finishes 103rd with a timing of 43:00.3 minutes in men’s 15km cross-country skiing, 9:16.4 mins behind leader Dario Cologna of Switzerland. #pyeongchangOlympics2018 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/o1lcAVJ7Ku

— ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) February 16, 2018

Jagdish was only 4:28 minutes slower than the leader at the halfway mark but the gap increased as the participants reached the finish line. In cross-country skiing, athletes have to glide across a 15 km-long path on a snow-covered field in the shortest possible time.

It is still a remarkable feat for Jagdish, who almost didn't make it after the Winter Games Federation of India and the Indian Army delayed his departure over the nomination of a coach to accompany him.

India was represented by a total of two athletes at the Pyeongchang Games - Jagdish Singh and Shiva Keshavan.

Earlier, Keshavan, who has carried the Indian flag in six Winter Olympics from 1998 in Nagano, Japan to Pyeongchang this time, bid farewell to his Winter Olympics journey at an overall 34th position in the men's luge singles event.

As soon as Keshavan crossed the finishing line, he smiled towards the seizable Indian supporters, including his family members. He lifted his sled over his head and waved to the crowd for one last time.

The Indian supporters were holding the national flags and placards which had 'Go Shiva' and 'Nothing can stop the fire' written on them.

The luger from Vashisht near Manali has been the face of winter sports in the country for more than two decades, and had said just before the Pyeongchang Games that this Winter Olympics will be the last international event of his career.