Four-time Jr. Worlds medall Esow Alben hit bikers during training ride
Esow Alben, the first Indian to win a medal at a cycling World Championship at any level, said that he was hit from behind two bikers on Wednesday while he was on his training ride. Esow, 24, was training on the road near the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and said in a lengthy Instagram post that he was in his lane and “disciplined” while the bikers were “speeding at over 100kmph”.
Esow described the incident in a lengthy post on his Instagram along side a video in which he can be heard getting into an argument with what seems to be the two bikers. While the latter can be heard blaming him for riding in the “middle of the road”, onlookers can be heard siding with Esow. He also included images of his visibly damaged cycle. His buttock and hands had bruises and the rear wheel of his cycle was broken from the impact.
“I’m grateful to be safe, with only a few scratches. Thank you to my coach, team coach, and the officer who stood me and are helping with the investigation,” Esow said in his caption to the video he posted.
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“This could’ve been worse—not just for me, but for any cycl on the road. To everyone out there: We cycls are not in your way. We are humans. We are athletes. We represent our nation. Respect cycls. Give us space. Give us safety.”
The 24-year-old Esow from Andaman and Nicobar Islands resides and trains at the SAI Cycling Academy, which houses a top-class velodrome. The facility at the IG Sports Complex has got recognition from the world body UCI. Esow is the first Indian cycl to win an individual medal at a global level, a silver in keirin event at the 2018 junior track world championships. He won a silver in sprint and a bronze in keirin in the 2019 edition also.
Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Maninder Pal Singh said it was a “minor” accident and Esow “is fine now”. “He (Esow) has been given first aid and he is fine now. It was a minor accident and he is at his room. He should be able to train again tomorrow,” Singh told PTI. “He was on a routine training ride on the road (near IG Sports Complex). He was behind a bus and then hit a bike.”
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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