IG velodrome to become international cycling academy

The Indoor Cycling Velodrome of the Indira Gandhi Stadium here will be converted into an international cycling academy, thus becoming the Union Cycliste Internationale's (UCI) first satellite training centre of the sport in developing countries.

"UCI is opening a satellite centre here, becoming the only academy to be set up for the sport in developing countries. We have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for its opening and have already sent the MOU to UCI headquarters," Onkar Singh, secretary-general, Cycling Federation of India (CFI) told IANS adding that "the formalities will be done in a week's time".

The academy will be primarily aimed at training riders in the age group of 14-16 years and will begin functioning in a month's time, he said.

"The motto of the academy will be to provide a single training method, through experienced coaches, to these young riders to prepare them towards becoming medal prospects for the country. Grooming them from the junior level and training them for at least five years will increase the chances of winning medals in big events as well as increase the bench strength of the national team," he said.

Onkar Singh said the federation has already installed all modern training facilities, including a gymnasium, and arranged for a workshop for the riders.

"Selection is already being done on a pan-India basis. Nearly 500 aspiring riders participated in the selection trials across the country which were simultaneously arranged in all prime centres."

He added that it will be a residential academy with special emphasis given to education for the cyclists with the federation funding the supply of equipment needed to run such a centre.

"We have also imported equipment for this purpose," he said.

Earlier in the year, SAI opened its National Cycling Academy at the sports complex with the aim of making it the prime centre for nurturing junior talent and training elite cyclists for international competitions.