Cycling heads to Formula One track

The second phase of Hero Asian Cycling Championship begins tomorrow with 800-odd riders set to slug it out for the road race part of the event at the stae-of-the-art Buddha International Circuit here.

The second phase of Hero Asian Cycling Championship begins tomorrow with 800-odd riders set to slug it out for the road race part of the event at the stae-of-the-art Buddha International Circuit here. Life won’t be easy for either the riders or the crowd that would come to watch the cyclists with the action now shifting from the cool environs of the IG Velodrome to the scorching,arduous BIC Formula One track.

The best of riders from Asia will realise for the first time what it takes to racing on a F1 track and the taste of an arduous course earmarked for them in the Hero Asian Cycling Championship. No doubt,all the participants,including the top riders from Iran,Korea,Hong Kong,China,Malaysia and Chinese Taipei,not to forget the Indian riders,would be conscious of the task at hand.

The continental championship would not only give them medals,but also the vital points which will help them lay a strong foundation towards qualifying for the Rio Olympics in 2016. For the Indians,who ended the track challenge with their best ever showing in the championship they finished a creditable ninth in the medals table with two silver and two bronze the new test at the BIC would serve as a good experience,besides providing a chance to rub shoulders with the best in business.

The Indian contingent will have high hopes from the likes of Suresh Bishnoi,Gurmeet,Sombir Singh,Dilawar,Sunita Devi,Geeturaj who will draw inspiration from Deborah and Manorama who won two silver and three bronze between them.

Dhindsa nominated to ACC board

Meanwhile,at the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Congress held on Tuesday,Cycling Federation of India president Parminder Singh Dhindsa was nominated to the executive board of the ACC. This is the first time ever that an Indian has been nominated to the decision-making body,which consists of 13 members. The ACC was attended,among others,by UCI president Pat McQuaid. “This is a major development for both Indian and the sport of cycling in the country under the dynamic leadership of Parminder,” said organizing secretary of the championship,Onkar Singh. “Having a say in decision-making in the ACC is the best thing that can happen to Indian cycling,” he said.

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