Medal hope from talent Down Under
- Noshirvan Mistry, a Sydney-based cyclist with roots in Jamshedpur, is set to join training camps
Jamshedpur, Feb. 25: Born in Jamshedpur, now living in Australia, he is coming back to represent his state.
Failing to find able representatives here, the Jharkhand Cycling Association (JCA) has set sights on Noshirvan Mistry, a Sydney-based cyclist boasting hometown links with Jamshedpur, to participate in the 34th National Games.
The youngster, who is presently setting timings close to the national record in professional races Down Under, has accepted the state cycling body’s request of representing Jharkhand.
“We’ll be fielding Noshirvan in team pursuit and point race events. He’s well-tuned to such events,” JCA secretary Satibir Singh told The Telegraph. “We are confident of landing a gold or a silver in both events. His presence will be a big boost for us.”
In a text message to the JCA secretary, the cyclist said having been born and brought up in Jamshedpur, he always wanted to return and represent his home state and participate in the National Games.
The Mistrys stayed in the steel city till 1994. His father (Firoze) worked for the Tata Steel sports department while his mother (Shernaz) was a teacher at DBMS. An alumnus of the same institute, Noshirvan is a software engineer by profession and has represented Maharashtra in the national cycling championships in the past. “He donned Maharashtra colours when he used to stay in Pune with his parents,” the JCA secretary said.
Now, Noshirvan is actively participating in professional races across Australia, competing at the masters, national and world levels. He finished fifth in the points race last year and also claimed three bronze medals at the state championship in Australia and got a couple of fourth places at the national championship last year.
At present, Noshirvan is clocking 5 minutes 9 seconds in the 4km team pursuit, not very far from the national record of 5 minutes 3 seconds. “A little more effort and who knows he may notch the top slots at the Games,” Singh said. Noshirvan is joining the Jharkhand probables for the Games-specific coaching-cum-conditioning (third phase) camp. “He has asked us to send him the schedule so that he can plan things out. He is very keen to join us and get to know the other probables from close quarters,” he added.
JCA is now awaiting funds from the government for the camp. “We also have problems of spares and equipment. We hope things will fall in line as the Games are not very far off,” he said.