New Delhi: The who’s who of Asian cycling, including two London Olympics and World Championships medallists, will be in action at the Hero Cycles 33rd Senior and 20th Junior Asian Cycling Championship to be held in the national capital from March 7th-17th, 2013.
The Hero Cycles Asian Cycling Championships, which have already attracted a record participation of over 765 cyclists from 29 countries for the track and road races, is the largest ever held in the Asian continent in terms of numbers, besides adding a few new features to the event.
Incidentally, the continental championship is all the more important because they kick start the qualification process for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the cyclists would look to amass vital points over the 10 days.
Having hosted the high profile event twice before, in 1989 (New Delhi) and 2005 (Ludhiana), the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) is all set to create history by hosting the event once again, only this time, on a much grander scale!
Some of the biggest names in the sport will assemble here, including London Olympics multiple medal winner Guo Shuang of China, 2010 World Championship silver medallist Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia and twice Asia Tour leader Mehdi Sohrabi of Iran, to name the few.
Though the track events will be held at the IG Stadium Cycling Velodrome from March 7th-11th, the road races will be conducted at the Buddh International F1 Racing Circuit from March 13th-17th, yet another first in cycling history.
“The event is all the more important for Indian cyclists who can sue this as a platform to perform well at the international level and will get a chance to make an impact in front of the home crowd. It is a huge opportunity for India as we can use this tournament to bid for the biggest tournaments in Cycling like the World Championships,’’ said Parminder Singh Dhindsa, President of Cycling Federation of India and Chairman Organising Committee, Hero Cycles Asian Cycling Championships 2013, New Delhi.
The team has qualified for the World championships, currently being held at Minsk (Belarus), for only the second time and I have no doubt that Indians would perform well in the continental meet.
Indian fans will get to watch at least 18 cyclists from the country gunning for glory with some promising youngsters in the fray like Sree Rajesh, O. Vikram Singh, Amarjeet Singh and Amrit Singh, hoping to keep the tri-colour flying high. One of India’s bright prospects in the Hero India Cycles Asian Cycle Championships, Sombir Singh, who has participated in the Common Wealth Games (CWG) and Asian Games, is hopeful about India’s chances, ‘’Though cycling is not a hyped sport in India, we have been putting in a lot of effort and hopefully through this Championships, we will be able to showcase our talent in front of the home crowd. We have practised at the F1 circuit and are confident of winning medals for the country,’’ he said.
The event has also attracted a huge response from the corporate world with Hero Cycles joining hands with the Cycling Federation of India to provide a huge boost to the sport.
“Cycling as a sport has a huge potential in India and we want to play an important role in the growth of the sport across the country. There can be no bigger platform than the Asian Cycling Championship to kick start the campaign to spread the sport in the country and we are determined to take this association beyond this competition,” said Pankaj Munjal, Chariman and Managing Director Hero Cycles and Co-Chairman, Organising Committee, Asian Cycling Championships 2013, New Delhi.
While the track races would be held at the second world class velodrome in Asia, the spectators would get a chance to watch the cyclists set the pace on country’s only Formula one track, Buddh International Circuit (BIC) during the road races.
In an interaction with the media in Delh, Askari H Zaidi, Senior Vice President, Jaypee Associates Pvt. Ltd that owns the BIC, said, “I am very pleased that the organisers have decided to conduct the road races at the Buddh International Circuit. It is like opening a new chapter for us and I am sure the cyclists and the spectators would enjoy the facilities and the ambience of the BIC.”
As a prelude to the main championships, a Para-Cycling event will also be held on March 5th near the Nehru Stadium periphery with cyclists from four countries, including the host, participating in the event.
“We are confident India will qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016. An event of this stature helps Indian athletes also get more exposure. We are certain of bagging medals in Asian Cycling Championship. We are very happy with the response we have got from the competitors and I am confident that the spectators would turn up in large numbers to support these cyclists,” said Organising Committee secretary Onkar Singh.
The track events will have Ten components—Sprint, Time Trial, Keirin, Individual pursuit, Points Race, Scratch, Omnium, Madison, Team Sprint and Team Pursuit—with varied distances for men and women. The road races will see competition in Individual event (200 KM approx) and Time Trial (40 KM approx).
By Indian Sports News Network
