Just two days are left for the Hero Asian Cycling Championship but riders from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are yet to receive visas for coming here due to "political reasons", Cycling Federation of India President Parminder Singh Dhindsa said today.
"We are worried as the Iranian team is yet to receive visa clearance for the Championship due to political reasons. Iran is one of the cycling powerhouses of Asia. Their presence would enhance the quality of competition on display," Dhindsa said.
"Pakistan and Afghanistan have also not received their visas. We are pursuing the matter at our level. We are talking to the Ministry about this," he said.
Former para-swimmer Prasanta Karmakar will be leading the Indian challenge in the two-day para-cycling event starting tomorrow while the 33rd Senior and 20th Junior Asian Cycling Championship starts from March 7 at the Indira Gandhi stadium's velodrome.
"The team is well prepared. We are a far superior team than the 2010 Commonwealth Games. We have been practising here for the past 10 months and are definitely hoping for medals in the championship," chief Indian coach Amar Singh said.
The team had recently participated in the World Championships in Belarus where it had to compete on borrowed cycles as the riders' luggage couldn't reach them in time due to mismanagement by the airlines.
The Indian officials had to request the host nation to provide cycles, head gears and other racing equipment for the Championship, where the team performed below expectations.
