Government Reviews Roadmap to Make India a Global Cycling Power, Focus on Grassroots, UCI Recognition and Olympic Success

The Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming cycling into one of the country's key Olympic disciplines, with Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, holding a comprehensive review meeting with officials of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) to discuss the future roadmap for the sport.

The meeting, held in New Delhi on Friday, brought together CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh and senior federation officials to evaluate India's progress across grassroots development, high-performance training, international participation, and athlete pathways. Discussions also focused on strengthening India's presence on the global cycling stage through world-class competitions and greater engagement with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

One of the primary objectives of the meeting was to create a structured development pathway for Indian cyclists, beginning with grassroots talent identification and extending through elite performance programmes. Officials deliberated on improving coaching standards, incorporating sports science, expanding technical expertise, and providing athletes with regular international competition exposure. The roadmap also includes strengthening domestic competitions to ensure talented cyclists have a clear progression from district and state championships to the national team.

The Minister emphasised that developing sustainable systems, rather than relying solely on individual talent, will be critical for India's long-term success in international cycling.

A major point of discussion was the upcoming edition of the Pune Grand Tour, which has quickly established itself as one of India's flagship international cycling events. The Minister observed that hosting internationally recognised competitions provides Indian riders with valuable experience against world-class athletes while simultaneously demonstrating India's capability to organise elite sporting events.

The event has become increasingly important in positioning India on the international cycling calendar and aligns with the country's broader ambition of becoming a preferred destination for global sporting competitions.

The meeting also highlighted a significant milestone for Indian cycling at the international level. According to CFI Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh, the UCI Annual Report 2026 has accorded special recognition to India's growing contribution to global cycling. The report features a message from UCI Director General Amina Lanaya, who praised the success of the Pune Grand Tour 2025 and acknowledged India's expanding cycling culture and the efforts of the Cycling Federation of India.

Raksha Khadse described the recognition as a proud moment for Indian sport, stating that appreciation from cycling's global governing body reflects the country's steadily rising stature within the international cycling community.

Another landmark development discussed during the review meeting was India's growing representation at the prestigious UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle, Switzerland. Following the induction of Harshita Jakhar as the first Indian cyclist to join the elite training programme, five of India's top sprinters, Ronaldo Singh, Esow Alban, Rojit Singh, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo and James Singh, have now also been selected for the programme.

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In addition, four members of India's support staff will undergo training at the World Cycling Centre. The minister welcomed the development, noting that exposure to world-class coaching, advanced sports science, cutting-edge technology and international competition will significantly strengthen India's high-performance ecosystem.

Such initiatives are expected to enhance not only athlete development but also improve coaching standards and knowledge transfer within the country.

The review also assessed the progress of the Khelo India ASMITA Cycling City League, which has emerged as one of India's largest grassroots competitions dedicated to women's cycling. The initiative has created structured competitive opportunities for female cyclists across multiple cities and districts, helping identify and nurture young talent at an early stage. Raksha Khadse noted that the growing participation under the ASMITA programme reflects the increasing popularity of women's sport in India and demonstrates the success of efforts to build an inclusive sporting ecosystem.

Officials believe that strengthening the grassroots pipeline will play a crucial role in producing future national and international champions.

The meeting concluded with discussions on expanding India's domestic competition calendar, strengthening coaching infrastructure, increasing community participation, leveraging sports science, and ensuring seamless athlete progression across all competitive levels. Speaking after the meeting, Raksha Khadse credited the transformation of Indian sports to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India, which have expanded opportunities for young athletes across the country.

She emphasised that cycling possesses immense untapped potential in India and said sustained collaboration between the Government, the Sports Authority of India, the Cycling Federation of India and other stakeholders would be essential in producing athletes capable of competing for medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Olympic Games. The minister also praised the Cycling Federation of India, led by Maninder Pal Singh, for expanding competitive cycling, strengthening grassroots participation and deepening India's engagement with the UCI.

With international recognition through the UCI Annual Report, the continued success of the Pune Grand Tour, the rapid expansion of the ASMITA Cycling City League and the increasing presence of Indian cyclists at the UCI World Cycling Centre, Indian cycling appears to be entering a new phase of growth.

As India continues its journey towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the government's renewed focus on infrastructure, women's participation and high-performance development signals an ambitious future for cycling in the country.