Cricket, hockey, golf and guess what in the row to hog limelight. It is cycling, indeed. Speculations are rife that plans will materialize soon regarding the opening of a new cycling academy on par with other sports. After considering the huge success of IPL and IHL, the cycling authorities would now aim to open an exclusive professional academy to encourage all those who are interested in taking up to this sport.
Though the episodes of disgraced cyclists like Lance Armstrong are still afresh in mind, it has to be seen that how beneficial the results would in popularizing the crazy sport of cycling in India.
If everything materializes as per the actual schedule, India will be the first Asian country to have a professional cycling academy by 2013 end. The proposal to set up an academy will come up for discussion when Pat McQuaid, president of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for the sport, visits India during the 33rd Asian Cycling Championships here next month.
Perhaps, there is a lot much is desired to be done so that the features are best represented in order to popularize the sports. Reaching to the level of participating in Tour de France is something that should be high on the agenda of the training cyclists. However, the lack of proper tracks has proven to be the major hindrance for all those who would like to represent their priorities well.
“We’ve been having talks about an academy in India for sometime now. Things are progressing well and I’m sure that a professional cycling academy will soon come up in Delhi this year end,” Cycling Federation of India (CFI) president Parminder Singh Dhindsa said on Wednesday.
It is necessary to popularize this popular sport in India. This is the actual motive behind the setting up of academy. There is every need to advertise cycling on par with any other sport in order to realize maximum results for sure. Perhaps, there would be hardly any situation during which it can be said that not enough efforts have been put in by the concerned officials in setting up the academy.
Enthusiastic cyclists will be able to hone their skills based on the training offered to them in a perfect manner. Winning medals and rewards is important on par with the improving go skills to the core.
Dhindsa added that by hosting the Asian Cycling Championships from March 7-17, the sport will get a boost in India. CFI is looking at a public-private partnership for the proposed academy.
"The UCI president will be in India from March 11 to 13 and the proposal to have an academy in India will come up for discussion,” said CFI secretary general Onkar Singh, adding: “It will be tough to do it ourselves and we would need corporate support. The velodrome is in a dilapidated condition and we need funds to maintain an infrastructure like that.”
Some of the events in the championship will be held at the Buddha International Formula One circuit. Approximately 700 cyclists from 40 Asian countries are expected to participate
