Endurance cyclists Meenakshi and Harshveer make it top 15 in world rankings

Two endurance cyclists have quietly worked their way up to the top 15 in the UCI World Rankings. The 22-year-old Meenakshi Rohilla is ranked No. 13 in the women’s 3km Pursuit and  Harshveer Singh Sekhon, 26, has risen to No. 15 in men’s Elite Elimination Race ranking. Since Cycling competition in the multi-discipline games offer many medals, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has invested significantly in the sport over the past few years. The spotlight may have been trained on the sprinters – Ronaldo Laitonjam, Esow and David Eklathchoongo– but endurance cyclists, Harshveer Singh Sekhon and Meenakshi Rohilla have indeed stolen a march.

“I had to pinch myself when I discovered that I was ranked World No. 11 a few weeks after finishing fourth in 3km Pursuit in the Asian Track Cycling Championships in New Delhi,” she said. “I was doing a random check on the UCI website and found that I was 11th. I told a few friends.”

Having grown up in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, Meenakshi’s introduction into the whirlwind sport was mostly due to a persistent push from her father Narender. “Riding on the road had its own problems. I remember, one of the first times I rode alone, I felt like an alien. People were stopping, staring at me, riding up near me to stare. It was a novelty for them,” she recalled.

Meenakshi has faced some taboos of her own.  “My father always supported me, always pushed me to play sport, stay active,” she said. “My extended family would often object, saying I shouldn’t be going to play, shouldn’t be playing with boys, but my father never backed down. He always said that any success I achieved would be not just for myself but for other families with girls too.”

She credits cycling for having turned her life around. It has changed her outlook to life, she says. “I’ve learnt a lot of lessons from cycling,” she said. “I’ve learnt that you can’t always win. You’ll have good days and bad days. You’ll be injured, you’ll fall ill. Through it all you have to maintain focus, stay calm and things will turn your way. Just keep working hard.”

Even she seemed unaware that she had sneaked into the top 10 in the April 9 rankings, staying there till August 27. She had slid to 25th rank before her entry to the 2024 UCI Track World Championships in the Danish town of Ballerup saw her return to the top 15 in the rankings released on October 22.

“I wish I had prepared better for the World Championships by competing it at least a couple of events after the Asian Championships in  February. It was almost as if even I was unsure that I would make the cut for the World Championships in Denmark. As it transpired, my quota was confirmed only in early September ,” she said, reflecting on her 19th place finish.

“I am not offering any excuses, but I also wish I could have organised myself some vegetarian food in Denmark. I could not push myself as much as I wanted to. Surely, I could have done better in Ballerup,” she said. “But I have returned with great learning, watching the best riders prepare and compete. My resolve to ramp up my power and riding skills has only been strengthened.”

Though it is a World Championships event, the 3km Pursuit does not figure in the Olympic schedule. Meenakshi is well aware that she has to up the ante when it comes to competing in an event such as Omnium and being in the mix for the Los Angles 2028 Olympic Games. “The high world ranking gives me the confidence to be more fearless in the group races,” she says.

“I will recalibrate to focus more on the Omnium in the year ahead,” Meenakshi said, preparing for the National Championships in Chennai. “I will work on the mental side of the sport to be able to make a mark in the group races. I believe I can be very competitive in the Omnium in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan,” he said.

For the uninitiated, the  Omnium is track cycling’s sternest test for endurance riders with multiple races – Scratch Race, Tempo Race and Elimination Race leading to a Points Race.