CFI completes Commissaires' Seminar

Pune, Nov 29 (IBNS) The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) completed its first-ever Commissaires' Seminar (Refresher Course) ahead of the showcase 16th National Road Cycling Championship that gets underway in Pune from Thursday.

The two-day seminar held in association with the Maharashtra Cycling Association (MCA) was attended by 15 members who reviewed key regulation changes from previous years, which has now become a regular worldwide practice by member associations of the world cycling body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The three-session seminar involving practical and theoretical sessions was held at the CIRT auditorium, Kasarwadi situated on the Pune-Nashik highway.

The commissaires' who attended the intensive road cycling seminar were; Radhakrishnan, Ashokan (both Chennai), K Dattatreya, Dilip Jagtap (Hyderabad), V N Singh (New Delhi), RK Sharma Services (Services), Debojit Dutta (Assam), Pinaki Baisak (Kolkata) and Vrushali Gaikwad, Sudam Rokade, Vishal Pawar, Sunita Shelke, Prabjot Singh Kalsi, Amol Ganla, Gajen Ganla (all Maharashtra)

CFI Honorary Secretary Onkar Singh, explained, "The objective of the course is to educate our officials with the constant updates that UCI put in place after making reviews of the many championships conducted worldwide."

The seminar assumed importance, particularly officials, ahead of the National championship, which is CFI's biggest championship of the year.

"The seminar was basically a refresher course so that officials can be judged at the end of the day. Moreover the seminar culminates in an exam which leads to gradations accordingly," explained Singh.

The gradations are to ensure that the best are utalised in the championship ahead.

The successful completion of the seminar has led CFI to make a decision to conduct the same twice a year. "The need of the hour is to be abreast with the uniform rules that keep changing with minute alterations. We have realised that commissaires' need to be apprised of these changes especially when India themselves are part of the UCI Asia Tour."

India for the past two years have conducting two UCI Road Races (class 1.2 events) offering prize money worth E25,000.