Mountain biker from city wants to promote sport in NE despite obstacles
By Monojit Mandal
Meghalaya, as we know by the sobriquet abode of clouds, has more in its cradle than just scenic beauty. In the arena of sports and games, this land never seizes to surprise one every now and then.
Football and cricket predominantly enjoy the popularity here but sports like mountain biking are gradually claiming authority among the rest.
Mountain biking is a kind of sport that involves riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially designed bikes.
This sport can be divided into multiple categories such as cross-country, trail riding, all mountain, downhill, free ride and dirt jumping. It requires endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills and self-reliance.
Experienced riders pursue both steep technical descents and high incline climbs over the mountains. In the case of free ride, downhill and dirt jumping, aerial manoeuvres are performed off both natural features and specially constructed jumps and ramps.
To get into this sport more intricately, Sunday Shillong interacted with one of the upcoming talents in this particular sport, Apshai Griffith Niangti, a 20-year old sportsman from Shillong who wants to make it big in mountain biking.
“I have been cycling professionally since late 2015 and I first started with a local race wherein I secured my first podium. From there on I went for the race in Nagaland. It was from this point onwards that I knew I wanted to take cycling to the next level,” said Niangti, a BCom student at St Edmund’s College.
“I went forward and participated in many local and national events and secured podiums in several races,” he added.
Between 2015-19, Niangti has participated in numerous competitions like the Himalayan Mountain biking festival, Kohima downhill championship, Mokukchung mountain biking festival, MTB NATIONALS and Asian Enduro Series, Nepal, among others. He has been the champion several times.
Recollecting his experiences, the biker said he had competed with both national and international riders — Gautam Taode, Vinay Menon, Piyush Chavan, Ollie Hemstock (UK) and Prachit Magar, to name a few — and achieved good results.
Niangti started riding at a young age and instantly liked the sport. “As a child I had tried my luck in other team sports like football, cricket and even athletics but nothing really works out for me. I guess it’s because team sport was not really my field and because my family was into motorsport racing so I found my own sport and that is mountain biking,” Niangti explained his choice.
Track story
Mountain biking in Meghalaya started in the late 2000 and over the years, it has grown in stature and popularity. Many youth are choosing the sport not only for recreation but at the competitive level. Anissa Lamare is a known name in the sport.
“The scope in mountain biking does not look as bleak as it once was,” said Niangti.
Since Meghalaya is blessed with the perfect terrain, it is a favourite destination for passionate riders. The state offers biking trails all over the city and a few hours of drive to the outskirts and the trail becomes 10 times better.
The 20-year-old mountain biker said apart from having many other benefits, this sport can help in promoting tourism in Meghalaya as well as the whole of the North East, thus aiding the overall economy of the region.
“From a racer’s point of view, we have a number of races here in the North East which, if you can dominate, could make you a little richer than you already are. Mountain biking can also be a source of income provided that we have support in having permanent trails statewide. Since MTB enthusiasts travel all around the globe to ride and explore new trails, this will bring more riders to the state,” the biker asserted.
“But at the end of the day it is all about having fun and enjoying the ride and the scenery which the place has to offer. And for those who are looking for some adrenalin rush, riding can offer it too,” he added.
In India, the sport has a deep-rooted fan following, especially among those living in rocky terrains. “Mountain biking in the country has been blooming and we have many athletes representing India in many international events. States like Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have many agencies where they take people on tours on cycles; some have bike parks. Many bike companies sponsor athletes who in turn advertise their products. These athletes are given proper training and sent for races in and around the country,” Niangti said, much with pride but also with disappointment.
The local biker has never got the opportunity to have professional training. “It’s a sport that most people think is risky and life threatening. The only training that we (local bikers) receive is the videos on YouTube and friends who constantly push each other to be better. After watching videos online, I would motivate myself each day to be strong and focused,” he explained the situation.
Niangti is currently preparing for the Asian Downhill Championship 2020, Asian Enduro Series in Bhutan and other regional races. “I am really passionate about cycling and want to be the leader in promoting the sport in this region and all over the country,” Niangti’s excitement was reflecting on his face.
But his expression changed when asked about his plans for the next few years. Mountain biking is an expensive sport and it often becomes a struggle for a sportsperson to remain on track without a sponsor. According to the biker, any help from the government or an NGO is welcome.
“Future is uncertain in this sport. I’m still a privateer and bearing all expenses for the bikes and the races. Had it not been for my supportive family I would have stopped long time back. But my future plan as for now is to be able to race for India at the Asian level and also to promote mountain biking as a whole in this region. I hope that I get the required support so that I can further pursue this sport and make a mark,” he tried to sound positive.
So what does the sportsman do when not exploring the mountain trail? “I am not much of a reader but I do enjoy reading Haruki Murakami and Paolo Coehlo. Alchemist and Kafka On The Shore are among the favourites,” said Niangti, who also has keen interest in trekking, rock-climbing, motorsport racing and swimming.
Photo courtesy:
Apshai Griffith Niangti