Sri Vijaya Puram, November 6: A national record by young cyclist I.S. Bridney and a string of podium finishes across age categories have put the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the spotlight at the 78th Senior, 55th Junior and 41st Sub-Junior National Track Cycling Championships, held at the Sidhu-Kanhu Velodrome from October 30 to November 4.
Bridney delivered one of the standout performances of the championship, winning gold in the sub-junior girls’ 500-metre individual time trial with an impressive timing of 37.479 seconds, setting a new national record in the event. Gayatri Tambavekar of Maharashtra claimed silver, while Saikhom Florence Devi of Manipur finished with bronze.
Her achievement marked a significant moment for cycling in the Islands, with the young rider establishing herself among the country’s leading competitors in her age category.
The men’s elite squad also produced a strong performance, securing gold in the team sprint. Esow Alben, David Beckham and Chamberlain combined to clock 1:02.865, finishing ahead of the RSPB team, which recorded 1:04.162 to take silver.
Esow Alben continued his impressive run in the men’s elite individual sprint, winning gold, while teammate David Beckham secured bronze. The double podium finish underlined the Islands’ strength in the senior men’s sprint events.
The junior and sub-junior riders further strengthened the medal tally with a series of team and individual performances.
In the sub-junior boys’ team sprint, Rohit, Kingdom Bright and Messi Kartson secured bronze with a timing of 1:08.553. Maharashtra took gold, while Manipur finished second. Messi Kartson added another podium finish by winning silver in the sub-junior boys’ individual time trial, finishing behind Narengbam Maxson Singh of Manipur.
The women’s junior category brought further success, with Namita Violet winning gold in her individual event. She also teamed up with Faith and Britney in the junior women’s team sprint, where the trio secured bronze.
The Islands’ junior men’s contingent also made its presence felt, with Lionald Backer, Saw Zecheriah and Derickson winning bronze in the team sprint, adding another medal to the overall tally.
The spread of medals across elite, junior and sub-junior divisions reflected the depth of the Islands’ cycling contingent, with experienced riders and younger competitors both making their mark at the national championship.
Rajasthan emerged as the overall champion with 13 gold medals at the six-day competition, which brought together cyclists from across the country to compete in multiple track events.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, however, Bridney’s national record stood out as a particularly significant achievement, complemented by the performances of Esow Alben and the junior and sub-junior teams. The results offer further encouragement for the Islands’ cycling fraternity, with emerging riders demonstrating their ability to compete and secure podium finishes at the national level.
