Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 20 November 2024
Chennai hosted the National Track Cycling Championship from November 15 to 19, 2024, where Andaman and Nicobar athletes delivered an outstanding performance, claiming multiple medals and earning accolades for their dedication and skill.
David Beckham led the charge by securing a gold medal in the Senior Event, further cementing his status as a top-tier cyclist. Other medalists from the islands included Esow Alben, Celestina, and Nikita, all undergoing rigorous training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in New Delhi.
Making a remarkable comeback after reopening this year following the 2004 tsunami, SAI Training Centre (STC) in Car Nicobar added to the medal tally. Cyclist Messi Kartson clinched a silver medal in the Youth (Boys) Individual Time Trial, while I.S. Bridney bagged a gold medal in the Youth (Girls) Individual Time Trial. In the team event, the SAI girls’ team, consisting of Queendaline, Namita Violate, and Britney, secured silver medals, showcasing their strong teamwork and talent.
The cyclists trained under the expert guidance of SAI coaches V.B. Sutar and Anand V at SAI NCoE Thiruvananthapuram. Their success against larger and more resourceful states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand highlighted their resilience and commitment despite limited infrastructure.
Executive Director of SAI, Mr. Satyajit Sankrit, expressed his satisfaction with SAI Car Nicobar’s stellar performance, applauding the athletes and coaches for their dedication and efforts that brought pride to the islands.