|
New Delhi: India might be the hosts of the prestigious Asian cycling meet, which begins in the capital on Thursday, but their cyclists had to compete with borrowed bikes in the World championship in Belarus last month.
India finished 48th in the meet. This was the second time India qualified for the World championship. According to Cycling Federation of India (CFI) sources, the four-member Indian team found their bikes and all other luggage missing when they reached Minsk for the February 19 to 24 meet.
The airlines, which was supposed to carry the cycles, expressed their inability to deliver them on time.
“After a lot of trouble, we managed to borrow some cycles from other competing teams. No wonder our cyclists performed poorly,” said a CFI official. The airlines company, he said, has apologised and has agreed to pay compensation.
Meanwhile, Asian cycling giants Iran along with Pakistan and Afghanistan are unlikely to compete in the Asian meet here owing to visa issues.
For India, the onus will lie on Chandrasekar Rajesh, Amarjit Singh, Amrit Singh and Bikram Singh to lead the country in the Asian meet.
| 
