Belagavi
The newly established Udupi District Amateur Cycling Association (UDACA) made an impressive debut at the 16th Karnataka State Level Road Cycling Competition held in Belagavi, securing a gold and a bronze medal, while three cyclists earned selection for the upcoming national-level Road Cycling Competition.
In the women’s open category, Ms. Gliona D’Souza showcased exceptional skill, clinching the gold medal. In the men’s under-23 category, Mr. Hardik Rai finished third to secure the bronze medal. Both Ms. D’Souza and Mr. Rai will represent Karnataka at the national-level Road Cycling Competition scheduled in Orissa in November.
Mr. Neel D’Souza was also selected for the national competition in the men’s under-23 category, reflecting his consistent performance throughout the state-level event.
Beyond the medalists, the UDACA team, including Mr. Srinidhi Urala, Mr. Deepak Kumar, Mrs. Shubha, Mr. Darshil, and Mr. Joshua Fernandes, impressed with their competitive spirit and strong performances, contributing to the association’s overall success.
Adding to the accolades, Mr. Hardik Rai has been chosen to represent Karnataka in the National MTB Cycling Competition in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, later this month.
The team was supported by Dr. Gururaj K, president and coach of UDACA, Dr. Syed Mustafa Hasani, vice president and team manager, and Mr. Deepak Kumar, treasurer and sports coordinator. The awards ceremony also saw the presence of dignitaries such as Mr. Vivek Rao Patil, Member of the Legislative Council; Mr. G.V. Patil, President of the State Cycling Association; Mr. Sreeshaila M. Kurani, State Secretary; Mr. Raju Biradar, Director; and Mr. Ramesh Pujari, Convener, whose participation highlighted the significance of the event.
The UDACA’s stellar performance in its inaugural state-level competition signals a bright future for competitive cycling in the Karavali region, with expectations of continued success at the national stage.
