A contingent from the Meghalaya Cycling Association (MCA) won four medals at the 20th National MTB Championship, which was organised by the Haryana Cycling Association at the end of last month.
The MTB (mountain bike) championship was held under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India on March 28-31.
Five cyclists from Meghalaya were led by MCA president Lening S Bareh and West Jaintia Adventure and Cycling Association secretary Lanlifni Lamare.
Aaron Oniel Kharpuri won a gold medal in the Downhill Elite category, while Taitus Ch Marak took silver in the same event.
Kevin Lyngdoh, meanwhile, bagged double silver in the XCO (Cross Country Olympic) time trial and mass start youth category events, while Lambormi Phawa secured fifth in the XCO junior men’s category and Fabian Khyllait seventh in the XCO youth category.
The association expressed its pride at the shortlisting of Taitus and Aaron for the upcoming Asian Continental MTB Championship, which will be held in Malaysia in May.
This national championship was held on the tough and rugged trails of Morni Hills, Panchkula and saw participants from all over the country. This is the first time that the MCA has been so successful in the ever evolving sport.
The association conducted a couple of training programmes for the cyclists weeks before the event and the results have been promising and satisfactory, it said in a press release.
“We would like to congratulate all the participants and also the whole team, comprising the manager, coach and association members, who have been involved throughout the process with their support,” the release said, adding further thanks to the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Meghalaya State Olympic Association and district cycling associations.
Cycling was included as a sport in the Meghalaya Games 2022 for the first time and this helped the association grow and drew high potential athletes to the sport, the MCA concluded.
