New Delhi: The 18th edition of the Asian Championship for Luge is underway in Nagano, Japan, with over 25 athletes from Asia participating in the official training. Athletes will be required to qualify over the course of the 2-day official training for the final race to be held on Sunday.

The main contenders for the podium are five -time Olympian and two-time Asian champion Shiva Keshavan from India, current Asian title holder Hidenari Kanayama from Japan and Dong Hyeon Kim from Korea.

Shiva Keshavan has participated in two World Cups this season with his best showing in Lake Placid (New York) with a 15th place finish at the Nations Cup.
He is scheduled to participate in three of the remaining World Cups in the second half of the Season (January and February 2016)

The next two winter Olympic Games are to be held in Asia, Korea 2018 and China 2022, which has brought in immense investments for winter sports, with China gunning for medals in all disciplines. At least 20 athletes from China are training with two World Class Coaches towards the winter Olympic Games in China 2022.

Shiva Keshavan has yet again resiliently fought against lack of funding and is focused on commencing towards his sixth participation for India at the Olympic Games.