Cycling News: Shoddy treatment of National Cyclists

Sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has often spoken about putting the sportsperson first. However, it seems India still has a long way to go before this goal is achieved. A case in point is the forthcoming National Cycling Championships, scheduled to be held at Sawai Mansingh Stadium’s velodrome from Wednesday. Pathetic would be a mild word to describe the conditions in which most of the cyclists have been housed. The entire Rajasthan men’s team of 30 have been put up in a hall — that is about 30 x 20 feet — below the velodrome stands. Worse, there are no beds. They have been given mattresses to be put on the floor. With the temperature dipping to well below 10 degrees Celsius, it can be extremely uncomfortable at night. “It is,” a cyclist admitted. “But we have to manage.” The organisers, Rajasthan Cycling Association, a newly-formed body, expressed their helplessness. “This is all that we have,” the officials said.