West Bengal Cyclists Association

History of Cycling Pre/Post Independence in West Bengal

Cycling was regarded as one of the most popular sporting events in West Bengal starting from pre-independence era.As a cycle was a common man’s mode of transport at that time. The first documented Cycling started in the year 1936 and thereafter the event become very popular. Cycling was a mandatory sporting event in every Sports Meet (Athletics) notably at Tala Park, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club and East Bengal Club sports held at that time. Madhusudan Nandy T. Shering, Jatin Das, Ajit Ghosh was the notable names of that era. By some time more prominent names came into cycle racing such as Raj Kumar Mehrah, Netai Chand Bysack, Tarit Kumar Sett, Suprabhat Chakraborty. The previously mentioned cyclists were the National champion in different events in cycling that continued for more than sixteen years which is the Golden Era of Bengal Cycling. The Indian Cycling Team first participated in Summer Olympic Games in 1948 at London and next in the year 1952 at Helsinki. The most of the previously mentioned cyclists were selected and participated in both Olympic Games from Bengal.

International credentials of cyclists from West Bengal representing India at various levels:

The Indian cycling team comprising of others along with R. K. Mehrah, S. Chakraborty, and other 2 cyclists won Silver Medal in 4000m Team pursuit. Mr N C Bysack still remains the only Asian Games Individual Bronze medallist in 200 m Sprint in the 1st Asian Games at New Delhi 1951.

The Indian Cycling Team comprising of Raj Kumar Mehrah, Netai Chand Bysack, Tarit Kumar Sett, Suprabhat Chakraborty, Pradip Bose along with others had participated in the World Olympic Games at Helsinki, Finland 1952 with Sri S M Ray as the Manager of the team.

Tarit Kumar Sett along with Suprabhat Chakraborty were selected to represent the country at the prestigious World Peace Race, from Warsaw to Prague via Berlin along with Dhana Singh, Amartjit Singh, Malcom Sr. After that, in 1955, Gokul Das had also participated in the World Peace Race along with Raj Kumar Mehrah.

Thereafter there was a down phase of cyclists from Bengal, however cyclists namely Pinaki Bysack and Abhijit Sett had represented the country in various cycling tournaments in India and abroad including Asian Championships. They had been National Champions in their respective disciplines.

Recently Ms Triyasha Paul and Santi Biswas had won medals in the Jr. Asian Track Cycling Championships(2018-2022)

WB Cycling was also dominated by some prominent cyclists after 1962 time to time namely Jia Ur Rahman, Amalesh Chatterjee, Ajoy Ghosh, Bhola Chakraborty , T. S. Chang. All of them were National champions in different events. In the women’s section Sikha Sen, won several gold medals in Sub Junior to senior category and was the most prominent name in women cycling in Bengal at all times. Some others were Rikta Mondal, Bani Ghosh, Ruma Chatterjee.

The only All India InterUniversity Champion tittle in Road category was held by Jyoti Kesh Sett in the year 1958 also commonly known as University Blue in cycling from Bengal.

The state cycling association was founded by a team of cycling enthusiasts namely Ajit Ghosh, Jatin Das, T Shering with S M Ray being the 1st President along with N C Bysack, Tarit Kumar Sett, Suprabhat Chakraborty, Sarit Kumar Sett being the Office bearers in the year 1960-61. Thereafter West Bengal Cyclists’ Association was headed by Sri Abhijit Sen, an eminent industrialist and Chairman and Managing Director of Sen – Raleigh Ltd which later on was taken over by the Govt to become Cycle Corporation of India Ltd. The head quarters of Cycling Federation of India was at Mercantile Buildings, Kolkata under the leadership of Abhijit Sen and Raj Kumar Mehrah as the Secretary.

The first of its kind of stage race in India was conducted under the leadership of Sri Abhijit Sen, named as ‘SUDHIR SEN STAGE RACE’ in 1968 from Konnyapur(Asansol) via Massanjore, Dumka and back to Asansol with a total distance of 550 kms ridden over 3 stages. It was a All India Invitation Stage Race participated by many star cyclists who had represented the country in 1968 Tokyo Olympic Games for India.

Other famous All India Invitational Races were namely Kolikata - Shantipur and back distancing about 180 kms with lot of utility prizes, which discontinued after 1977 due to road permission complications within the city. The other one was All India India Invitational Road race organized by Sursoonah Sporting Club distancing 180 kms approx. starting near Ajanta cinema in Behala to Kakdwip and back finishing near Behala Blind School. This had many participants pouring in all over India as the prizes were very attractive including massive size trophies for the first three places. However , this race was also discontinued after 1995 due to road permission complications.

It is indeed the first time in the history of WBCA that in 2019, 11th August , in presence of an observer from Cycling Federation of India, the Annual General Meeting and Elections were carried out at Hotel Esteem, wherein 13 district associations had participated and voted for the house.

WBCA also with the help of local MTB riders sent a MTB team to the MTB National Championships at Gadag, where West Bengal riders created a sensation by winning 4 medals in various categories in the Championships in 2019.

After the Covid situations were over for a short span, WBCA along with Darjeeling District Cycling Association had conducted the 1st State MTB Cycling Championships at Tiger Hill, under the supervision of Dr. Maxwell Trevor, CFI representative for the championships. From there we could thereafter build a very good MTB team of very promising riders who could earn numerous medals at the MTB Nationals at Alandi , Pune. MTB riders namely Sudhangsu Rai, Sudhangsu Limbu, Riyant Rai and Suraj Rai, out of them Riyant Rai and Sudhangsu Limbu had represented the country at the Competition cum Training for a month at Turkey 2022.