Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Tuesday, May 14, 2002 |
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Sports : General
By Our Sports Reporter
Five countries, including Pakistan, have confirmed their participation in the championship. Bhutan and Maldives will be the absentees. "Pakistan Cycling Federation is sending a 22-member team, eight men and women each, and six officials,'' said the Secretary of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Mr. J. S. Grewal. But with the air, rail and road link between the two countries discontinued, it will be the responsibility of the CFI to transport the Pakistani team from Wagah border to the capital. While Bangladesh is sending a 16-member team, Nepal has committed five cyclists. Initially, Sri Lanka objected to having track events in the schedule, but the CFI insisted on holding a full itinerary. But, after the intervention of the Asian Cycling Federation, Sri Lanka agreed to take part in the meet. In the inaugural championship hosted by Sri Lanka, the island nation conducted only the road events as it did not have a velodrome. India had won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. The championship was earlier scheduled to be held in February 2001, but was postponed after the Gujarat earthquake, and then the heightened security scenario in the region following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., further delayed the meet. Due to the heat wave in the north, the CFI is planning to conduct the championship in two sessions. Events such as individual time trials and individual pursuit, which are not popular with the spectators, will be held early in the morning. Point races, speed trials and team events will be conducted in the evening. As for India's preparations, a camp is on in Patiala with selection trials scheduled to be held from May 16 to 19. "There are 14 men and eight women participating in the camp which started on March 1. Eleven men and six women will form the Indian team,'' Mr. Grewal said. There is further good news for cycling enthusiasts. The year 2002 will see India taking part in the cycling events of the Asian Games after a gap of 12 years. It last participated in the 1990 Beijing Asiad before a storm within the federation forced the government to stop all the grants. "We will gauge our preparedness for the Asian Games through the SAARC championship,'' said Mr. Grewal. Going by the timings recorded in the practice sessions, Indian men can push for a medal in the team pursuit event. While the national record in team pursuit stood at 4 mins 56 secs, the men have been clocking 4:44-4:45 regularly. "If we do 4:40 in Pusan, we can even hope to win a silver,'' Mr. Grewal added.
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