SAI cycling academy set to get UCI nod

The SAI National Cycling Academy (SAINCA) is set to get the nod of sport's world governing body UCI, which has agreed to make the world-class facility its satellite centre.
According to a Cycling Federation of India (CFI) release, the academy will be a UCI training centre by September. The centre was inaugurated at the IG Sports Complex Velodrome here in March.
UCI president Brian Cookson gave his green light to the centre during a meeting with CFI and Sports Authority of India's (SAI) officials during last month's Asian Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
"I think New Delhi (India) fits our bill of vision to start an academy in a developing country because I have been following the progress of their cyclists. They have done really well in recent times and I look at this rare opportunity (of an academy) to help them in a big way particularly and those in the region generally. We, in Great Britain, had started in a similar way," said Cookson.

The UCI's satellite World Cycling Centre (WCC), will serve the interests of the cyclists from the Middle and East Asia besides the Indians.
A tripartite agreement to this effect will be signed by the three parties -- the UCI, the CFI and SAI -- in July.

The CFI delegation to Astana included its president Parminder Singh Dhindsa, secretary-general Onkar Singh and treasurer Bani Ghosh.
"It is, indeed, a rare honour for the CFI as India will have the first international sport academy to help our cyclists and the rest in the region. It was all possible because of our cyclists' sustained high class performance on the international stage," said Dhindsa.

As per the agreement, the WCC's primary objective will be develop and coach the track team of India, maximise the use of existing structures to develop cycling activities in the country.