Cycling: Pedalling in vain

India does not have a great record in cycling, a sport that has been a part of every Asian Games except the 1954 event in Manila. The country has won just three medals — all at the inaugural 1951 Games in New Delhi.

Not in the running: Even a top-five finish by India’s cyclists will be commendable. The above is a representational image from the Guangzhou Asian Games.

India does not have a great record in cycling, a sport that has been a part of every Asian Games except the 1954 event in Manila. The country has won just three medals — all at the inaugural 1951 Games in New Delhi.

Rohinton Noble took the bronze medal in the men’s sprint, Netai Chand Bysack won the bronze in the 1km time trial and the men’s team clinched silver in the team pursuit event.

At the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, India’s nine-member contingent struggled to even qualify for the final round, with most exiting in the early stages. At Jakarta-Palembang, the country’s chances of a medal in any of the four events — BMX, mountain bike, road and track — seem bleak. Even a top-five finish will be commendable.

Squad: Men:  Ranjit Singh, Manjeet Singh, Raju Bati, Manohar Lal, A. Bike Singh, Rajbeer Singh, Esow, Appolonious and Dilawar Women:  Deborah Herold, Aleena Reji, M. Sonali Chanu, T. Manorama Devi, Nayana Rajesh Priyadarshini, E. Chaoba Devi and Megha Gugad