Though Leonardo da Vinci (1452 to 1519) is credited with the earliest design for
a machine driven by cranks and pedals with connecting rods, it took until the turn of the
19th century for the basic technical developments of a bicycle to be completed. The sport
became popular in Europe and the USA and has been a part of the Olympic calendar since the
inception of the modern Olympics in 1896. It has also been on the programme of the Asian
Games since.
Events today are conducted under two categories; the gruelling road races including the
marathon and the track races with team events as well as time trials. For the most part
racing cyclists are at liberty to choose any kind of a bicycle subject to official
regulations for the kind of racing involved. Cycling in India is a relatively new sport,
though the Cycling Federation of India was formed in 1939. However, India's first
International appearance was in the 1934 Empire Games (as the Commonwealth Games were then
called) when Janki Dass represented the country.
In the first Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951, India won one silver and two bronze
medals. The silver came in the 4,000 metres team event; the squad comprising R.K. Mehra,
Madan Mohan, Dhangar and Gurdev Singh. The bronze modals were won by R.R. Noble and N.C.
Bysack in the 1,000 metres sprint and 1,000 metres time trials respectively. |