CYCLING AS SPORTS IN INDIA AN UPDATE

(Facts & Figures collected and compiled by ​Mr. JAGVIR SINGH​)

Brief History

Cycle is a poor man’s transport, hobby of rich man and medical

activity for the old. In most of the cases, a child life starts with a
cycle, two wheeled & tri – wheeled irrespective of his/her status of
being from a rich, middle or poor family , hence, it may be
mentioned that the cycling activity starts in the beginning of
childhood and it becomes a sport at 10-12 years of age.
Cycling as a sports was introduced in India with the efforts of Sh.
Janki Das in mid thirties. It found its International level when Sh.
Janki Das, the lone Indian Cyclist participated in the British Empire
Games at Sydney (Australia) in 1938 with Swami Jagan Nath
accompanied as Manager.
With the pioneering of these two, Indian Cycling was to secure
affiliation of National Cycling Federation to the National Cyclists
Union of England. A few years later, another stalwart Sh. Sohrab
H. Bhoot of Bombay & Sh. Janki Dass joined hands in furtherance
of cycling sports & formed the National Cyclists Federation of India
in 1946 & secure affiliation of this new body with Union Cyclists
International (UCI). The same year, Indian Cycling Team
participated in World Cycling Championships held in Switzerland.
Thereafter, Indian cycling teams participated in London Olympics
in 1948 & World Cycling Championships at Amsterdam in 1946 &
Brussels in 1949.
Cycling was one of the sports in 1st Asian Games held at National
Stadium, New Delhi in 1951. At that time Sh. Sohrab H. Bhoot,
who was President of National Cyclists Federation of India,
formally constituted the Asian Cycling Federation with himself as
its founder President.
During 1st Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951, the following
Indian Cyclists won the medals as under :-
1. Sh. R. K. : Silver Medal in 4000 Mtr
Mehra Team Pursuit
2. Sh. Madan : Silver Medal in 4000 Mtr
Mohan Team Pursuit
3. Sh. : Silver Medal in 4000 Mtr
Lhanguard Team Pursuit
4. Sh. Gudev : Silver Medal in 4000 Mtr
Singh Team Pursuit
5. Sh. N C : Bronze Medal in 1000 Mtr
Bysack Time Trial
6. Sh. Sanwas : 4th Position in 120 Miles Road
 Shah Race

Besides the above, the Indian Cycling Teams participated in

various International Championships & Road Races from 1951 to
1955.
Late Sh. Amar Singh Sokhi won Silver Medal in 4000 Mtr.
Individual Pursuit held in Japan as part of Asian Cycling
Championships in 1962.
In 1955, the National Cyclists Federation of India ran into certain
difficulties with the Govt. of India leading to withdrawl its
recognition & as a result the Indian Teams could not participate in
any of the International Competitions/Championships. This
stalemate continued for about 6 years.

It was 1962, when the Indian Olympic Association, through its

good office could get the dispute resolved with the selection of Sh.
Abhijit Sen of Sen Raleigh Cycles as President of National Cyclists
Federation of India & subsequently the Federation with its new
office bearers, was granted recognition by the Govt. of India.
Soon after breaking the ice, an Indian Cycling Team consisting of
Late Lalbir Singh, Sucha Singh, Late Amar Singh Billing & Late
Amar Singh Sokhi & Chetan Singh Hari with Sh. R. K. Mehra as
Manager cum Coach, participated in 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a
part of Indian Contingent. The team, which did not have any
practice on 45 degree track as in the Tokyo Olympics, obviously
could not put up any creditable performance, which became a
restraining factor for future International participation. Again it
was after a gap of 6 years & with the persistent efforts of office
bearers of the recreation a team of 9 cyclists & 2 officials was sent
to participate in the VI Asian Games, Bangkok in 1970 as a part of
Indian Cycling Teams in International
Competitions/Championships became smooth. In 1966, the name
of cycling body in India was changed to its present Cycling
Federation of India in conformity of General Regulation of Olympic
Games & Indian Olympic Association. The election of office
bearers earlier held after every three years but the tenure to 4
years was amended through its Constitution in 1979 as to be in
the line followed by Indian Olympic Association.
FACILITIES AVAILABLE: ​The first facility for cycling sports
appeared in the form of a concrete track in National Stadium, New
Delhi which was built around an athletic track in 1951 for 1st
Asian Games with a maximum elevation of 27 degree on the
curves & a length of 466 mtr. Second similar track was built in
Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium, Bombay in 1952. Another track was
also built in Yadvindra Stadium, Patiala with bitumen surface
having a length of 469 mtr & maximum elevation of 12 degree at
the curves. One bitumen track of similar type with a slightly
higher elevation at the curves was built in Ranteevra Stadium,
Bangalore around 1960 – 61 & another in sport school, Rai in
1974. The first good track nearly to an International Standard was
built in Punjabi University, Patiala in 1975. This is a track of
concrete built around an athletic track with a length of 500 mtr &
maximum elevation of 38 degree at curves. Since then, this track
has been used for a number of National Championships. Inter
University Championships, Inter Railways Championships & for
National Coaching Camps to prepare Indian Cycling Team for
International Competitions/Championships. Another track of
similar type was constructed in Bikaner (Rajasthan) curing 1980.
Having these tracks, the two cities, Patiala & Bikaner have
assumed the role of nurseries of cyclists. The gifts of cycling
sports in India once again appeared when hosting of IX Asian
Games organized by our country in 1982. An International
standard concrete track was built in New Delhi & named as
Yamuna Velodrome. This track has 333.33 mtr length with
maximum elevation of 38 degrees at the curves. This track was
built after detailed calculations & consultations by experts & civil
engineers. The entry to arena is through a tunnel with no facilities
for other play ground inside.
At present, there are more many tracks of International standard
beside the above 6 tracks :-

1. Punjabi Agriculture University, : 333.33 mtr

Ludhiana
2. Jaipur, Rajasthan : 333.33 mtr
3. Pune, Maharashtra : 333.33 mtr
4. Trivandrum, Kerala : 333.33 mtr
5. NIS Patiala :
6. Railway Recreational Club, :
Secundrabad
7. Imphal : 333.33 mtr
8. Hyderabad : 333.33 mtr
Un
de
r
Co
nst
ruc
tio
n:
9. Jabalpur :
10. Guwahati :
In comparison of early years of cycling sports in our country,
there are many concrete tracks now for training, although it is not
good enough for a vast country like ours.

COURSES
For the first time, a course of National level coaches was arranged
in Nov 1980 with the help of FIAC who financed the deputation of
an International Coach & NIS who finance all other expenditure of
the foreign coach, seven Indian coach & one from Bangladesh
qualified finally as National level coaches. Since then the coaching
of all cyclists including Indian Cycling Teams started under the
supervision of these qualified coaches.
Two courses for National Commissaires were held in 1980. Mr. I.
V. B. Hansen of Denmark, an International Commissaire of high
repute was deputed by FIAC as teacher. 28 Officials qualified as
National Commissaires out of these two courses, 1 st course from
25 th October 1982 to 3 rd November 1982 was conducted by Mr.
Hansen.
Diploma Courses for coaches in cycling sports started by NIS
Patiala and Ist batch of 18 coaches qualified in June 1984. This
being Ist course was conducted by a foreign coach Mr. Warmer
Fritysche. Since then regular course at NIS Patiala are being
conducted.
FOREIGN COACHES AVAILABLITY
The Government of India approved the deputation of a foreign
coach and his services were made available in Feb 92. This
programme did not mature hence another coach Mr. Kim
Refshammer of Lenmark, an Internationally fame, was deputed in
September 1982 & he imparted training in Yamuna Velodrome and
road training at Delhi – Jaipur National Highway. The result of
coaching became visible in the form of highly improved
performance of boys by creating three New National Records in
Sprint, Time Trial & Individual Pursuit events of 38 National
Cycling Championships held at Yamuna Velodrome, New Delhi in
Sep 1982.
The services of another USSR Coach, Mr. V. Zubernis were also
made available & he imparted track & road training till September
1994. The Indian Cycling Sports received a tremendous progress
& six New National Records were created in March 1993 during 47
Senior National Cycling Championships held in Delhi.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Earlier we had National Championships once in a year for all age
groups but to have better talents to improve further, separate
National Championships for Junior was introduced in 1967. To go
a step further, separate National Championships for Sub Junior
Riders was introduced in 1981. Since then all age groups started
getting an opportunity to participate separate in three different
National Championships which were being held regularly every
year.
To be in a line of UCI, from 1995 separate National Road Cycling
Championships were introduced & this bifurcation granted a
chance to an affiliated unit without Velodrome. The 1 st National
Road Cycling Championships for all age groups were held in May
1995 at Jabalpur (M.P) & 2 nd at Calcutta & the 3 rd at Chennai
and this process continued accordingly.
The results of these National Championships being held regularly
our cyclists started creating New National Records in the Track
Championships. The eventwise New National Records are shown
separately.
It has become quite clear now that we have enough talents in our
country who can create New
National Records during the National Championships but we need
much and more emphasis to be put on the training, equipments &
other facilities to be provided to the National Cyclists. Beside
training & better equipments, we need best technical
understanding (Know How), consideration & coordination.
Cycling Equipments are not manufactured in our country hence
these are imported from outside resulting financial hardships on
the riders, states units & the federation.
Today we have more than 40 technically qualified persons in
cycling sports & their services are always at the disposal of the
Cycling Federation of India.
FUTURE CAREER OF SPORTS PERSONS
Since the introduction of reservation in jobs at centre & state level
for the sports persons or cyclists have also been granted jobs in
Punjab Police, Railways, BSF, Armed Forces (Army & Air Force) &
other ministries of centre & state level, with an incentive of
additional increments & out of turn promotions to the gold
medallists.
The Government of India has also many schemes for sports
persons like old age pension, lump sum grant for fatal injury
during training, assistance for medical treatment, assistance to
sports promoters, assistance to families of outstanding sports
persons in indigent circumstances.
ARJUNA AWARD TO CYCLISTS
The following cyclists were selected by the Govt. of India and
honoured with Arjuna Award for their achievements at National &
International levels :-
Sh. Amar Singh
Mrs. Minati Mahapatra - Presently with Steel Plant, Rourkela.
Ms. Armin Arethna - Left India