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Raring to go

SAAP talents train for the ensuing national track championship

SURGING AHEAD Trainees going through their practice schedule at the SAAP cycling velodrome PHOTO: MOHD. YOUSUF

Despite the searing heat a few dedicated cyclists of the SAAP academy are going through their training daily at the cycling velodrome under the watchful eye of their coach Chandra Reddy. With the national track championship coming up in Belgaum in June, they have no time to waste.

The boys have not had much activity because they were busy with their exams till recently. The academy spotted raw talent from the grassroots level and trained several boys who have become national medals winners. They include B. Roopesh, K. Dharma Teja, R. Vijay Bhaskar, G. Ramaiah Naidu, J. Nishant Kumar and Sai Krishna.

When the academy started in the year 2000 in Karimnagar, it did not have adequate facilities. Only roads were available for practice but nevertheless the boys managed to garner some medals including four golds in the road nationals in Bhopal and eight medals in the Bikaner track nationals. Later in the Belgaum road nationals they got one gold and one bronze and also a silver in the SAARC championship in Delhi. After the academy was shifted to the cycling velodrome in the Osmania University campus, things really picked up.

In the track nationals in Hyderabad, the academy boys bagged four golds, five silvers and three bronzes. More medals followed in the Pune road nationals and in the mountain bike championships in Hyderabad.

"The boys were selected by a series of tests which included cycling two kilometres for endurance and one lap for speed. Running tests were also conducted along with standing broad jumps. None of the boys had any earlier experience so we had to start from scratch. But despite that we have been able to achieve considerable success within a short period," says Chandra Reddy.

"The boys receive systematic training daily. Off-season training is different from competition training but usually in the morning it is track workouts and in the evening we hit the roads.

Thanks to the National Games in 2002, we got some top quality machines. After that the results improved even further. At present we have the best available cycles for track competitions," says Chandra Reddy.

The diet is an important factor in training and the administrator Harish Mulay explains that the academy spends up to Rs.75 per head per day on diet for the trainees. "We see that they get a balanced diet which includes tea, biscuits, bread, eggs, fruits, cornflakes, jam, butter, vegetables, milk and at least one non vegetarian dish daily. We also ensure that they have other comforts such as hot water and medical attention. If it is necessary to send them outstation for more exposure, then that is also provided," says Mulay.

The picture looks rosy at present but in order to succeed on a long-term basis it is necessary to keep up the effort. A systematic annual intake of boys into the academy and provision for more equipment is vital if AP is to match the cyclists from states such as Punjab, Andamans and Manipur.

ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA

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