In The State Where Ruling Party's Symbol Is A Cycle, There's Only 1 Cycle For 21 Competing Cyclists

The 68th National Cycling Championship, which began at the velodrome in Punjab Agricultural University on Wednesday, was a reflection of the indifference meted out to the sport in Uttar Pradesh.

Gear patrol

Though 21 cyclists are representing UP Cycling Association in the championship, only one cycle was used by all of them for all the events. The cycle being used by them was basic and second-hand. UP team coach Khursheed Ali said they were coping up with the situation by letting them use the lone bicycle by turns. "Our participants are using the bicycle turn-wise for their respective events," he said.

The lone bicycle is owned by one of the cyclists, Anees Ahmed. "He bought a second-hand cycle and made some modifications, so that we can use it in the events. He spent Rs 25,000 on it," Ali said.

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Anees is participating in the men's category of 200-metre race. By profession, Anees is a whitewasher. However, he loves cycling and this is the reason he wants to be a professional cyclist.

The coach blamed the "ignorant attitude" of his state's cycling association for the situation. "This is the reason why we have not been able to win any event at the national level," he said. "We do not even have a single velodrome in the entire state. Moreover, our students use basic cycles for practicing. So, how can we expect them to win a national-level event in which participants use cycles worth lakhs of rupees," he added.

Waimyoueng

Ali claimed that he has approached the general secretary of UP Cycling Association, RK Rastogi, to procure cycles. "However, my pleas have fallen on deaf ears," he added.

Ali described the situation of their team lacking a decent racing cycle as "an irony". "We belong to a state where yhe CM distributes cycles at political rallies. His party's election symbol is of a cycle. But, real cyclists do not even have cycles to practise and participate in such events," he added.