Sri Lanka riders too in South Asian cycle race in Sri Lanka April 5 to 7

by Sajeewa Jayakody

The first ever South Asian Cycle Race is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season this year, according to the Sports Ministry.

With the Sri Lanka government’s aim to establish a ‘Sports Culture’ in the island, Sports Ministry initiated the inaugural cycling race for the riders of South Asian countries, which will tour the island from April 5, 6 and 7.

Cycling is Sri Lanka’s favourite and famous sporting event, especially during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival period in April. It will be a morale-booster for the youths, who have got passion for cycling in the Sri Lankan rural areas as the cycle race is a prominent sports event in the Sinhala-Tamil New Year Festival.

The governing body for cycling - Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka was able to organize a dozen races in the last couple of years. During that period, the Federation extracted six riders and fielded them in two international events where they showed better results, competing against region’s best riders in India.

The interim committee-run governing body, is satisfied with the performance of their riders at the two international events including ‘Tour de India’, which was held last year.

Lankan riders were able to clinch commanding places (6th, 9th, 11th and 13th) competing with eight-nation region’s 70 riders.

During the last couple of years, the local riders have been receiving the services of the Chinese coach Chong Siok and the riders were bolstered with his assistance and they are hoping to win many events during the first ever South Asian Cycling Tour.