Indian cyclists train on Australian terrain

For the first time ever, a team of 18 Indian cyclists trained in Australia for a month in readiness for the Commonwealth Games 2010, to be hosted in Delhi. The team of 12 male and six female cyclists roughed it out in NSW’s North Coast alongside regional clubs, under the watchful eyes of Aussie coaches.

The cyclists underwent rigorous training in idyllic conditions throughout the Burringbar Ranges and the Tweed Valley until the end of last month, and also trained in Sydney’s Olympic Park for a few days, in the run-up the Commonwealth Games slated for October 3-14 this year.

“This is the first time that an Indian team has been given assistance from and trained, in Australia. It is hopefully, the start of many good things to come. Similar occurrences have happened with Malaysian and Japanese teams that have had a long association with Australia and have cyclists training in Australia,” Phill Bates, President of St George Cycling Club in Sydney, told Indian Link

“The World body, the Union Cyclist International (UCI), has been also assisting nations with less cycling experience to gain assistance from successful international coaches like Graham Seers, a Moscow Olympian. The UCI even has training camps for cyclists from emerging countries to train with specialised coaches in Switzerland,” added Bates, a Board Member of NSW Sports Federation and former Track

Commissioner of the UCI.

“The Minister for Sport & Recreation, the Hon. Kevin Greene, is also pleased that our coaches are assisting the development of the cyclists in India,” he observed.

Minister Kevin Greene, in a press statement, said “NSW has a lot to offer International sporting teams and this is a great example of a very large cycling contingent making use of our countryside and roadways. On top of that, the team is

Geoff Stevens, President of the Academic Board, called Shankar a remarkable musician and praised his outstanding work for society and mankind.

Pandit Shankar, whose father was a lawyer, responded to the honour by saying, “I am overwhelmed and humbled by this award. I can only say that I am deeply honoured and thankful for being recognised.”

Ravi Shankar was in the country to perform in different states with his daughter Anoushka.

Eleanor Holden, patron of the arts who attended the Melbourne concert said that the musician played to a packed house. The first half comprised of Anoushka’s performance with the band. After the interval, it was Pandit Shankar’s turn and he excelled, as usual.

Said Eleanor, “Ravi Shankar may be physically fragile in some part, but those sinewy fingers of a ninety year old were still able to compete with Tanmoy’s bounce on the tabla. This concert was a special pleasure.”

Ravi Shankar’s acceptance of this prestigious award is a positive step towards a better Australia-India relationship, which has faced some rough weather since the past year.

Pandit Ravi Shankar has been credited with the concept of the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh in tandem with George Harrison from The Beatles. They raised money for refugees flowing into India, paving the way for today’s high profile benefit concerts. Pandit Shankar who had given Harrison sitar lessons, considered him as a son.

Pandit Shankar has performed extensively in approximately 40 concerts in the late 1990s. Through his 79-year career he has been a musician, lecturer, music composer and has taken on various other roles, which are only recorded in books. His contribution to the music of the movie Gandhi remains evergreen.

Priya Rajan throughout NSW and southern Queensland. and staff were building a great cornerstone for the future. “Despite cycling being a major way of transport in India, the sport of cycling is not popular. The opportunity of utilising parts of NSW to enhance their training and racing has been a great help in their advancement,” he said. also competing against many regional clubs, like Murwillumbah and Byron Bay.” Minister Greene added it was great to see former NSW Olympians, Graham Seers and Cliff Burvill, in charge of the training.

The cyclists were accompanied by six management and coaching staff from India. After their month-long stay, the contingent will be competing in the Asian Games in April in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, followed by a test event in Delhi on the newly constructed velodrome, before linking with an Australian racing squad in Boulder USA for high altitude training and racing in June.

Seers, a Moscow Olympian and renowned international cycling coach, spent seven months in India preparing the cycling team before bring them to NSW; while Burvill, a 1956 Olympic track cyclist, helped with the ground logistics and organising events

The final few months training in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games will take place in Delhi and Patiala in India. The cyclists will spend their last few days in Australia training at the Dunc Gray Olympic Velodrome at Bass Hill – their first taste of competing indoor on a board track.

The Commonwealth Games track is well underway and will be ready for use at the end of April.

Preeti Kannan