Keshavan plans to have academy to promote winter sports

Shiva Keshavan, the first Indian representative to compete in luge at the Winter Olympics, is aiming to build an academy to nurture talented youngsters and is in talks with a couple of state governments.

"My idea is to have a residential complex with all the multi-sports facilities and since (it will be) in the mountains, we will have access to the ski area, ice hockey," Keshavan told reporters here.

"It can be built over time. So, I'm speaking to a couple of state governments to give a little bit of land or get some sponsors (involved in it)."

Keshavan, a six-time Olympian, was speaking on the sidelines of the 'CII Conclave on Winter Sports', but he did not divulge which state governments he is in talks with.

"By doing so (having an academy), India can become a hub in the region. We have Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, all countries that have budding winter sports teams," he said and wished that other athletes should not go the way he had to take in his career.

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