Srinagar, Nov 24: In the ongoing tussle between two factions of J&K Cycling Associations, cyclists of the Valley are at the receiving end.
 The Association this year split into two groups on the same lines as their parent body Cycling Federation of India broke down earlier. The issue of who among the two national federations is the legitimate one is pending before Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Similarly, the issue of state Association factions is also pending.
 In September, one faction of State association hosted the National Mountain Terrain Biking event in Srinagar in which around 20 State teams from all over the Country participated. The J&K cyclists won dozens of medals.
 But now the cyclist face problem as other faction of the Association is conducting trials at Jammu without informing the top Valley based cyclists.
 “We are in puzzle and are not able to decide whom we should represent at national level. We were told that the case is pending in Ministry and none among the two is legitimate till the final decision,” said a well known cyclist, Mudasir Ahmad.
 “However the other faction of the Association based in Jammu which has never done anything for cycling in State are organising coaching camp and selection trials at Jammu. They are conducting trials at Jammu without giving us any chance to compete,” he complained.
 Mudasir said irony is that State Sports Council was supporting the Jammu based Association.
 “When no association among the two according to the Union Ministry is legitimate, how Sports Council has sanctioned coaching camp to it. In selection trials most of the top cyclists of Kashmir province who participated in recently held MTB national event in Srinagar have been banned by Jammu based Association,” he added.
 Another cyclist Ashique Hussain said that despite Kashmir province being strong hold of cycling the Jammu based Association has not conducted selection trials for National event in Valley.
 “The Association picked up some unknown cyclist from Valley and will project them before Council authorities as players from Kashmir. They have banned us because we participated in national event organised by Valley based Association,” he alleged.
 “We are in a puzzle and are not able to decide and if the dispute is not solved quickly our careers will be destroyed,” he apprehended.
 When contacted JKSSC secretary Kiran Watal said, “The situation has arised due to some differences in cycling association. Now there are two associations running in our State but only one is registered.”
 When asked how the camp and trials are being sanctioned to the one faction, Watal said, “We have not sanctioned any camp nor are we currently recognising any of the faction. We have asked Central Ministry about the report and genuineness of the Association whatever they will reply that would be bound on us.”
 About the selection trial he said, “The trials should be conducted on open manner and players from both provinces should get equal chance in that.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST