Top cyclists to participate at Asian Championship in New Delhi

A record 765 cyclists, including London Olympics multiple medal winner Guo Shuang, from over 30 countries will be in action at the Hero Cycles 33rd Senior and 20th Junior Asian Cycling Championship (ACC) to be held in the national capital region from March 7 to 17.

Besides Shuang of China, 2010 World Championship silver medallist Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia and twice Asia Tour leader Mehdi Sohrabi of Iran will also participate in the track and road race of the high-profile event, which was hosted twice before, in 1989 (New Delhi) and 2005 (Ludhiana), by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI).

The track events will be held at the IG Stadium Cycling Velodrome from March 7th to 11th, while the road races will be conducted at the Buddh International F1 Racing Circuit from March 13th-17th, a first in cycling history.

The continental championship is also important because it will kick start the qualification process for the 2016 Rio Olympics and the cyclists would look to amass vital points over the 10-day event.

"The event is important for Indian cyclists who can use this as a platform to perform well at the international level. It is a huge opportunity for India as we can use this event to bid for the biggest tournaments in Cycling like the World Championships," said CFI President Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

"The team has qualified for the World championship, currently being held at Minsk (Belarus), for only the second time and I have no doubt that Indians would perform well in the continental meet," added Dhindsa, who is also the chairman of organising committee of Asian Championship 2013.

One of India's bright prospect in the ACC, Sombir Singh, who will be participating in two categories, said, "I have practised at the F1 circuit and am confident of winning medals in the Championships for India.

"I am participating in Madison and 200km road race. The eight-month camp has been very good and we are performing at home and I am excited about the event." The track events will have Ten components-Sprint, Time Trial, Keirin, Individual pursuit, Points Race, Scratch, Omnium, Madison, Team Sprint and Team Pursuit-with varied distances for men and women. The road races will see competition in Individual event (200 KM approx) and Time Trial (40 KM approx).

"Cycling as a sport has a huge potential in India and we want to play an important role in the growth of the sport across the country. There can be no bigger platform than the Asian Cycling Championship to kick start the campaign to spread the sport in the country," said Pankaj Munjal, chairman and MD Hero Cycles.

While the track races would be held at the second world class velodrome in Asia, the spectators would get a chance to watch the cyclists set the pace on country's only Formula one track, BIC during the road races.

Askari Zaidi, Senior Vice President, Jaypee Associates Pvt. Ltd that owns the BIC said: "I am very pleased that the organisers have decided to conduct the road races at the Buddh International Circuit. It is like opening a new chapter for us and I am sure the cyclists and the spectators would enjoy the facilities and the ambience of the BIC."

As a prelude to the main championships, a Para-Cycling event will also be held on March 5 near the Nehru Stadium periphery with cyclists from four countries, including the host, participating in the event.

"We are confident India will qualify for the Rio Olympics in 2016. We had won a bronze in the 2011 Asian Cycling Championship and we are certain of bagging a medal this year," said organising committee secretary Onkar Singh.

"Cyclists from 29 countries will participate in the event, only Pakistan is in doubt for visa issues, otherwise we are very happy with the response we have got from the competitors," he added.

Asked what dope control measures will be in place, Onkar said: "In last 8 months, we have done random dope tests and also in trials we had done dope tests. Before the Asian Championship, we will have more such tests and we are very careful about this issue."