In yet another controversy ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, a group of Indian cyclists has said that the selection trial for the event was not transparent and some worthy riders were ignored.
Their allegations come close on the heels of India’s Australian coach Graham Seers statement that there was “no criteria” for the CWG team selection.
However, the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) claimed the allegations were baseless. Senior national champion Dayalaram Jat and veteran Thane rider Rajendra Soni and Pune's Prasad Khairnar alleged that there was no transparency in the Cycling Federation of India’s selection procedure.
Hitting out at the CFI, Dayalaram claimed that he was victimised when he was in his peak form and an inexperienced Paramjit Singh was chosen instead. “I was finishing among the top three during the trials but a stomach bug ruled me out of the trial in Patiala on August 16. The chief coach (Chayan Chowdhury) told me not to worry, as my timing was better then the rest. But my name was eventually omitted from the list,” Dayalaram told PTI from Bikaner.
“Paramjit, who was picked ahead of me, never even played any national. I have 47 medals to my credit at various levels in national. I was not allowed to give a second trial and discarded on basis of a conspiracy,” Dayalaram, reigning champion in the senior national 4 km team pursuit, said.
Incidentally, it was the Aussie coach who spoke in favour of Dayalaram's selection after his name was not picked. “Graham sir knows how good I am. At the selection committee meeting, he did not sign after seeing that my name was omitted. But later, the CFI officials convinced him,” Dayalaram said.
The selection trials were held in Patiala on August 16 for road cycling and on August 21-22 for track in New Delhi. Thane's Soni, who has a hattrick of gold medals at the national level, said he can better the timing set by any chosen member of the Indian CWG side.
Soni alleged he and his two wards — junior national medallist Manender Singh and Varun Kansara — went to Patiala to participate in the trials but the camp officials denied entry to the three saying it was not an open trial. “We left Mumbai on August 11 for the trials in Patiala.
There we were asked to train for the first few days. Later, CFI assistant secretary V.N. Singh behaved rudely and even asked us to prove that we are cyclists,” Soni told PTI from Mumbai.