Riding borrowed cycles, TN boy Antony dares to dream big

CHENNAI: “At the back of my mind, I know winning is the only way I can help my family repay the loans that they have taken for my career,” said 17-year-old cyclist Antony Raj, who is one among the four Tamil Nadu athletes qualified for the Asian MTB Championships in the junior section scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan in June. Hailing from a humble background in Coimbatore, Antony began cycling only two years ago. His father, a daily wage labourer, works as a cutting master in a textile company. Back then, Antony neither owned a bicycle nor had the means to travel for competitions. He borrowed bicycles, travelled on loans, and carried determination that refused to fade. “I was interested in cycling from a very young age but due to family situations I could not pursue it. It was my PE teacher, Vignesh, who introduced me to the sport in Class 11. I began with road cycling, and at my first district meet, the chain broke towards the end, forcing me to finish the race by walking alongside my bicycle. Later, during a summer camp, I shifted to MTB cycling under the guidance of coach Sabari sir,” Antony, who won two national medals earlier this year, told TOI. After receiving support from relatives, his government school (in Vagarayampalayam) and coach Sabari, Antony was able to buy a bicycle worth around Rs 1.3 lakh, but that model was not suited for difficult terrains. So, for the Asian meet trials in Haryana, he once again relied on a borrowed bicycle, and his coach Sabari arranged a Rs 5 lakh worth bicycle from another student of his. The teenager went on to secure the top spot and will and will now compete in Cross Country Olympic (XCO) category in the Asian meet. “It is because of the support of many people, including the parents of my fellow riders, that I am able to stand where I am today. I never knew if I could get to this position, but I feel all the hard work has borne fruit,” Antony, a trainee at the Western Valley MTB Cycling Track, added. Antony’s coach Sabari will see four of his students S Pranesh, S Sowbarnika and K Hashini take part in the Asian meet. He was full of praise for Antony, saying it is his dedication that is helping him. “Whenever I give him training, regardless of the intensity, he does not hesitate and always follows my instructions. In his first state meet in MTB, he finished fifth and then worked hard over the next year to excel,” Sabari, who has been giving free training for the last 10 years, said. “To compete in international meets, we need at least a Rs 15 lakh worth bicycle, which he does not have. We might send him with a Rs 5 lakh borrowed bicycle we currently have, or, if that does not work out, he will use his own basic one. Having a good bicycle is definitely important, but he has confidence and has trained hard. We have been receiving support from Tamil Nadu Cycling Association and Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, and I look forward to producing more cyclists.”