Manipur Cyclists Gear Up for 38th National Games with Medal Hopes in MTB and Track Events

For the first time in the history of cycling discipline in a National Games, two prominent riders will represent the state of Manipur in an MTB (Mountain Bike) event as they qualified for the upcoming 38th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14 this year.

The riders are Khariksing Adonis Tangpu from Ukhrul and Khundrakpam Ronel Singh from Ningthoukhong. Adonis who had won a silver and bronze in the Elite Men’s XCO (Cross country Olympic) in the 20th National MTB champ last year,will compete in Men’s XCO while Ronel who had a gold medal in U23 XCO, will participate in Men’s MTB events.

“Both the riders have medal prospects in the upcoming competition,” says President Dr Ng Arunkumar Singh of Manipur Adventure and Mountain Biking Association.

Besides the above MTB riders, eight more cyclists including three women riders have also qualified in Road and Track cycling events, which will be held at Rudrapur and Saat Tal (Uttarakhand ) from January 31 to February 11.

The eight cyclists are Y Rojit Singh, Elangbam Lanchenba Singh, Khwairakpam Rahul Singh, L Ronaldo Singh, Athokpam Bike Singh (Track Events), Yurembam Gitu Devi, Sarangthem Bidyarani Devi and Yumnam Thaja Devi (Track Events) and Yurembam Gitu, Sarangthem Bidyarani (Road Event).

“We’ve also started our preparations for the 38th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand,” says Cycling Coach Oinam Basanta Singh of SAI National Centres of Excellence, who is supervising the ongoing coaching sessions along with who’s who of Manipur Cycling. “We‘ve also conducted a trial session today.So we’ve expecting not less than five medals, mostly gold from different events.”

The day’s trial session was held at the cycle velodrome at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal to select one male and one female rider for team pursuit and Team sprint events.

In the last National Games in Goa, Cyclist Yanglem Rojit opened Manipur’s account in cycling with a silver medal by finishing second in the 10,000 m individual time trial, as he clocked second best at 1:03.891. He also bagged gold in the men’s 1000-metre sprint.

State’s five-member women’s team—Kh Rejiya, I Matouleibi, T Monorama, M Sonali and N Anita also won gold medals in the women’s 4 km team pursuit competition.

Manipur cycling team brought home five medals including three gold medals, one silver and one bronze from different cycling events.