Paris 2024 Olympics: Who is India’s Deputy Chef de Mission Shiva Keshavan at the Olympics? What Are His Achievements?

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Former Indian luger and six-time Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan is currently India's deputy Chef-de-mission at the Paris Olympics 2024.

In this role, he will assist the Chef-de-Mission, Gagan Narang, alongside Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, the senior vice president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and deputy Chef de Mission for Shooting.

Who is Shiva Keshavan?

Shiva Keshavan was born on August 25, 1981, to an Indian father from Kerala and an Italian mother. He is married to Namita Agarwal, who also serves as his sports manager, and the couple has a daughter. Keshavan's journey into winter sports began with skiing, winning the Junior National Ski Championship in 1995.

Olympic Journey and Achievements

The following year, he attended a luge camp, and at just 16 years old, he qualified for the 1998 Nagano Winter Games, making him the youngest luger to ever compete in the Olympics.

Despite not winning a medal in his six Olympic appearances, Keshavan has made significant contributions to the sport. His last Olympics were the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, where he finished 34th out of 40 athletes in the men's singles event. However, he has an impressive record in the Asian circuit, with a combined total of 10 medals in the Asia Cup and Asian Championship, including four golds.

Since 2009, Keshavan has been managing grassroots-level luge camps in India, nurturing young talent in the sport. In 2014, he became the founder-president of the Olympians Association of India and has been dedicated to supporting the Olympic movement in the country. Keshavan was appointed as the chief coach and High-Performance Director of the national luge team by the Luge Federation of India Who is India's Deputy Chef de Mission, Shiva Keshavan, for the Paris Olympics 2024, and

What Are His Achievements?

A fun fact about Keshavan is that in 2002, Italy offered him the opportunity to compete for them in exchange for support and training. However, he turned down the offer, expressing his desire to represent only India. Keshavan is the first Indian luger to compete at the Winter Olympics and is a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2020, making him the first winter sports athlete to receive this honor from the Government of India.

Role at Paris Olympics 2024

As India's deputy Chef-de-mission for the Paris Olympics 2024, Keshavan's vast experience and dedication to sports will be invaluable. His journey from a young skier to a celebrated Olympian and now a mentor and leader showcases his commitment to the growth of sports in India.