India’s campaign in para track cycling at the Commonwealth Games came to an end on Thursday after 16-year-old Lisha Das finished sixth in the women’s C4-C5 4,000m individual pursuit qualification in Glasgow.
The youngest member of the Indian contingent, and the country’s only para track cyclist to qualify for the Games, clocked 6:58.000 in the qualifying round, averaging 34.450 kmph. Her effort was not enough to progress to the medal races.
Australia’s Tara Neyland was the fastest qualifier with a timing of 4:45.796, while England’s Morgan Newberry finished second in 5:06.470. The two advanced to the gold medal race.
New Zealand’s Nicole Murray (5:06.878) and Australia’s Erin Normoyle (5:24.264) qualified for the bronze medal race. Under the competition format, the two fastest riders contest the gold medal race, while the third and fourth fastest compete for bronze.
The difference in pace was reflected in the average speeds as well. Neyland averaged 49.716 kmph, while Lisha averaged 34.450 kmph.
The Assam cyclist had attracted attention even before the Games began after expressing concerns over the composition of India’s support staff. Lisha had said that neither her personal coach nor a female support staff member had initially been included in the Indian contingent. She had requested a three-member support team comprising her personal coach, a female physiotherapist and a technician.
Lisha competes in the C5 category, which is meant for athletes with the least severe eligible physical impairments. She races despite a deformity in her right hand and remains one of India’s most promising young para cyclists.