Mission LA 2028: How Frenchman Kevin Sireau Is Charting India's Cycling Dreams

India's hopes of competing in the cycling program of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics centre around Frenchman Kevin Sireau and a clutch of talented young men who have already established their credentials on the Asian and world junior circuits. Supported by Union Sports Ministry, overseas coaches have had a role to play in almost every Olympic sport where India have excelled globally. This is the first time the Cycling Federation of India is riding on two-time Olympic medallist Kevin Sireau of France to fully exploit the potential of the national cycling ecosystem.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sireau, a professional racing cyclist, joined CFI in January and in four months, is already sniffing the eagerness among India's best cyclists to excel internationally. India are not only the Asian champions but have been junior world champions in the sprint category.

The Indian quartet of Esow Alben, L Ronaldo Singh, Y Rojit Singh and Jemsh Singh had won a historic men's team sprint gold at the 2019 World Junior Track Cycling Championship in Frankfurt. Three years later at the Asian Track Cycling Championship in Delhi, Ronaldo became the first Indian to win an individual silver medal in the men's sprint race.

India did well as hosts in the Asian Track Cycling Championship for both able-bodied and special cyclists in February this year. India finished with a total of nine gold, six silver, and three bronze medals and created numerous national records on the way. The Asian meet was also a qualifying event for Paris Olympics but no Indian made the cut.

Having won silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Games, Kevin Sireau certainly knows what it takes to win an Olympic medal. A matter of few seconds can make a huge