The Khelo India Women’s League-3 Road Cycling has been allotted to Kolkata, West Bengal and will be organized and managed by West Bengal Cyclists’ Association under the aegis of Cycling Federation of India. Its been a span of several years before a cycling event of National stature could be brought to Kolkata in recent years. The event will be organized on 25th & 26th March at Eco Park, New Town, Kolkata. The details were announced in a press meet on 23rd March at Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club. Abhijit Seth, Mahua Roychowdhury, Shikha Sen, Saurabh Mukherjee, Arpita Mukherjee, Rajeev Mehra and other WBCA members were present in the press meet.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have taken the initiative to build up the total ecosystem of Sports in the country and tap into the best of women sports talents across the States and give them a proper platform to compete in. The League invites cyclists from the Senior, Junior and Sub Junior & Youth age categories to participate and vie for the championship medals. More than one hundred women cyclists from seven states (Manipur, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, U.P & West Bengal) are going to participate in the Road cycling events. WBCA along with the support of Shyam Steel have arranged accommodation and food for all participants including team officials from the respective states starting from 24th afternoon to 27th morning hours. Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage also has extended support in development of cycling in the State for the last few years.
The event would be officiated by the top officials from Cycling Federation of India and for the first time an electronic timing system will be set up by Alge Timing Company to minutely determine the winners. Mr. Debasish Sen, Managing Director, HIDCO has been helping for the last few years in organizing cycling events in and around New Town.
Bidhannagar Police have agreed to extend their support and co-operation in related to manning of busy traffic around New Town during the event. This race is expected to be one of the biggest races under Khelo India Women’s League in terms of all aspects and will be West Bengal’s prestige factor at the national stage.