Cycling in India

A recent post about Cycling (Lance Armstrong precisely) at Sportskeeda had a very dubious response. The response said that why to create all the “hype” about Lance Armstrong when there are other Cycling greats also. Agreed. However, I completely refute the claim that there is any “hype” being created about Lance Armstrong that is “overshadowing the efforts of other Cyclists.” Lance Armstrong is a perfect example to portray the true sportsman spirit in any form of sport and the tenaciuos attitude in any walk of life. Leave aside his myriad championship wins. I am saying this solely on the basis of his resuscitation into Cycling after being diagnosed for a disease like Cancer. Even the toughest of the people give up hopes to lead a simple life if diagnosed for Cancer. This sports legend not just made a fresh entry into the sport but also won accolades and titles!! Such a man truly deserves the reputation that he is enjoying today. If Cycling means all about Lance Armstrong, then be it. There is no harm in it. There cannot be any harm in it. Isn’t F-1 all about Schumacher, isn’t Tennis all about Federer and isn’t Indian Cricket all about Tendulkar??

Well, this is certainly not the theme that I wanted to portray in this article, however couldn’t resist mentioning that!! So, how many of you have heard or even could imagine in your wildest dreams that there is an official Cycling authority in India? Honestly speaking, I couldn’t. But this is India and we are Indians. What you would never believe or even dream of, will be found in India!! Okay, enough of beating around the bush. Guys, I am talking about Cycling Federation of India (CFI), and since many and many of us do not know about CFI, I thought it prudent to let at least few of you know about it.

“Cycling 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 it become a sport at 10-12 years of age.” Folks, firstly, I apologise for the plagiarism because the aforesaid is a verbatim from CFI website. Secondly, everything is fair in love and war, and it is my love towards sports that forced me to do that!! Cycling was introduced in India in the late 1940s (maybe Lance Armstrong was not even born at that time!!) by two great and remarkable personalities – Janki Das and Swami Jagan Nath. The CFI was, however, constituted in 1946 as National Cyclists Federation of India (NCFI). Rest of the history might be boring, so let me put a full stop to its origins. However, one astonishing news is that in the 1st Asian Games, held in 1951 in New Delhi, 4 Indian Cyclists won Silver Medal and One Cyclist got Bronze Medal. What an achievement and what a victory!! Now, another surprising news is that after 1951 Asian Games, there is no news of any Indian Cyclist winning any medal in any of the International Championship (if anybody has any news, kindly share!!). The reason being dispute of the then NCFI with the Indian Government over recognition of the former and for years (6, precisely) there was a hiatus in the Cycling activities in India. Then after 6 years when recognition was granted and Indian Cycling contingent went to participate in Tokyo Olympics in 1964, they succumbed to the years of gap in practice and could not leave a mark in the event. Since then, I guess the downward spiral of Indian Cyclists continued and exists till date, for, I haven’t read or heard of any Indian Contingent participating in any International Championship (Again, if I am wrong, kindly do not mock at my obscurity. I am a human being, prone to making mistakes!!)

The following statement, in my opinion, is the ninth wonder of the world (its an exercise for the reader to find out the eight wonder!). CFI has 8 established tracks in India for Cycling which are according to the International Standards and on a regular basis, there are diploma level coaching courses for the National level Cycling coaches held in Patiala (Great, who is coming with me to add a diploma to their CV!!). And this is really funny – Notwithstanding these Diploma level coaching courses, CFI still calls some Foreign coaches from countries like Russia, Lenmark (NOT Denmark), etc and only when these coaches are called do Indian Cyclists make new records in National Championships (else they dont!!). Just kidding. There are plethora of National Level Championships that are held in India frequently and new records are made every time. Unfortunately, I bet, none of us know even the name of a single Cyclist, leave apart their records. So, if TV channels and newspapers cant telecast or print about these championships, at least we here at Sportskeeda can and IF you all or even few of you are interested, let me know. Some upcoming National Championships can be covered.

After all, we all first learn cycling and then switch to Bikes and Cars. So we need to show some respect towards the sport before the time comes when we would be paying our homage to the dead sport.

Cycling India

A recent post about Cycling (Lance Armstrong precisely) at Sportskeeda had a very dubious response. The response said that why to create all the “hype” about Lance Armstrong when there are other Cycling greats also. Agreed. However, I completely refute the claim that there is any “hype” being created about Lance Armstrong that is “overshadowing the efforts of other Cyclists.” Lance Armstrong is a perfect example to portray the true sportsman spirit in any form of sport and the tenaciuos attitude in any walk of life. Leave aside his myriad championship wins. I am saying this solely on the basis of his resuscitation into Cycling after being diagnosed for a disease like Cancer. Even the toughest of the people give up hopes to lead a simple life if diagnosed for Cancer. This sports legend not just made a fresh entry into the sport but also won accolades and titles!! Such a man truly deserves the reputation that he is enjoying today. If Cycling means all about Lance Armstrong, then be it. There is no harm in it. There cannot be any harm in it. Isn’t F-1 all about Schumacher, isn’t Tennis all about Federer and isn’t Indian Cricket all about Tendulkar??

Well, this is certainly not the theme that I wanted to portray in this article, however couldn’t resist mentioning that!! So, how many of you have heard or even could imagine in your wildest dreams that there is an official Cycling authority in India? Honestly speaking, I couldn’t. But this is India and we are Indians. What you would never believe or even dream of, will be found in India!! Okay, enough of beating around the bush. Guys, I am talking about Cycling Federation of India (CFI), and since many and many of us do not know about CFI, I thought it prudent to let at least few of you know about it.

“Cycling 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 it become a sport at 10-12 years of age.” Folks, firstly, I apologise for the plagiarism because the aforesaid is a verbatim from CFI website. Secondly, everything is fair in love and war, and it is my love towards sports that forced me to do that!! Cycling was introduced in India in the late 1940s (maybe Lance Armstrong was not even born at that time!!) by two great and remarkable personalities – Janki Das and Swami Jagan Nath. The CFI was, however, constituted in 1946 as National Cyclists Federation of India (NCFI). Rest of the history might be boring, so let me put a full stop to its origins. However, one astonishing news is that in the 1st Asian Games, held in 1951 in New Delhi, 4 Indian Cyclists won Silver Medal and One Cyclist got Bronze Medal. What an achievement and what a victory!! Now, another surprising news is that after 1951 Asian Games, there is no news of any Indian Cyclist winning any medal in any of the International Championship (if anybody has any news, kindly share!!). The reason being dispute of the then NCFI with the Indian Government over recognition of the former and for years (6, precisely) there was a hiatus in the Cycling activities in India. Then after 6 years when recognition was granted and Indian Cycling contingent went to participate in Tokyo Olympics in 1964, they succumbed to the years of gap in practice and could not leave a mark in the event. Since then, I guess the downward spiral of Indian Cyclists continued and exists till date, for, I haven’t read or heard of any Indian Contingent participating in any International Championship (Again, if I am wrong, kindly do not mock at my obscurity. I am a human being, prone to making mistakes!!)

The following statement, in my opinion, is the ninth wonder of the world (its an exercise for the reader to find out the eight wonder!). CFI has 8 established tracks in India for Cycling which are according to the International Standards and on a regular basis, there are diploma level coaching courses for the National level Cycling coaches held in Patiala (Great, who is coming with me to add a diploma to their CV!!). And this is really funny – Notwithstanding these Diploma level coaching courses, CFI still calls some Foreign coaches from countries like Russia, Lenmark (NOT Denmark), etc and only when these coaches are called do Indian Cyclists make new records in National Championships (else they dont!!). Just kidding. There are plethora of National Level Championships that are held in India frequently and new records are made every time. Unfortunately, I bet, none of us know even the name of a single Cyclist, leave apart their records. So, if TV channels and newspapers cant telecast or print about these championships, at least we here at Sportskeeda can and IF you all or even few of you are interested, let me know. Some upcoming National Championships can be covered.