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India Moves to Strengthen Cycling Ecosystem, Official Meeting

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New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse on Thursday met Maninder Pal Singh, Secretary General of the Cycling Federation of India, and senior federation officials to review a roadmap for strengthening India’s cycling ecosystem. They discussed building structured pathways from grassroots talent identification and community participation to high-performance training, sports science, coaching excellence and increased international exposure. The meeting also reviewed India’s expanding engagement with the Union Cycliste Internationale, noted UCI Annual Report 2026 recognition for India's contribution, highlighted Amina Lanaya's praise for the Pune Grand Tour 2025, and examined recent inductions of Indian athletes and support staff into the UCI World Cycling Centre programme at Aigle. Officials reviewed the Pune Grand Tour's role in raising India's international profile and discussed expanding the domestic competition structure, strengthening coaching and technical capacity, leveraging sports science and technology, and creating seamless progression routes from district and state competitions to national and international platforms. Khadse welcomed the federation’s efforts, cited Khelo India and Fit India initiatives, and reaffirmed government commitment to supporting women’s participation, high-performance athletes and sports infrastructure.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

CFI organizes domestic cycling events, including the Pune Grand Tour in recent seasons.
Prior federation initiatives emphasized grassroots participation and athlete development strategies.
On July 2, MoS Raksha Khadse held a review meeting with CFI leadership in New Delhi.
Officials discussed pathways from grassroots to high-performance and engagement with the UCI.
The Pune Grand Tour was cited as a priority for elevating India’s international cycling profile.

Why This Matters to You

India's push to strengthen its cycling ecosystem could inspire similar efforts in the U.S. If you're a cycling enthusiast, this could mean more opportunities for grassroots participation and high-performance training. Check out your local cycling federation to see what programs they offer.

The Bottom Line

India is making strides in the world of cycling, from grassroots to international levels. This commitment to sports development, especially cycling, is a model for other nations. If you're passionate about cycling, it's worth forwarding this to your local sports council or a fellow cycling enthusiast.