Kolkata, 06 November (H.S.): Sixteen-year-old I.S. Bridney from Car Nicobar in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has carved out a place for herself in Indian cycling, overcoming limited resources and geographical challenges. With institutional support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), guidance from her coach and sacrifices made by her family, Bridney recently won a gold medal and set a national record at the National Track Cycling Championships held in Ranchi.

At the 78th Senior, 55th Junior and 41st Sub-Junior National Track Cycling Championships, held on November 3 at Khelgaon in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Bridney clocked 37.479 seconds in the sub-junior girls’ 500-metre individual time trial event. In doing so, she broke the previous national record of 38.700 seconds, held by Trisha Paul, who has won medals at the Asian Cup and Asian Track Cycling Championships.

For an athlete who began her sporting journey without access to a cycling velodrome or competition-standard facilities, winning gold while setting a national record is a remarkable achievement. It is the culmination of years of hard work, discipline and sustained effort.

Speaking to SAI Media, Bridney said, “I was in good shape during my training under coach Vishwajit Balkrishna Sutar at SAI, Car Nicobar. I was expecting to perform well, but I had never imagined that I would set a national record. I simply tried to give my best performance.”

Bridney hails from Kinyuka village in Car Nicobar and comes from a modest economic background. Her mother, Junia, is a homemaker, while her father, Ruther, supports the family through coconut farming and the sale of dried coconut kernels, commonly known as copra. For a family dependent on traditional farming and limited income, supporting their daughter’s sporting ambitions was far from easy. Nevertheless, her parents stood firmly behind her dream.

Initially, Bridney was interested in football and the 100-metre sprint. However, during selection trials in November 2022, she demonstrated her potential in cycling. Coach Sutar recognised her talent and encouraged her to take up the sport. She was subsequently enrolled at the SAI Training Centre in Car Nicobar in 2023, where she received foundational training and developed her cycling skills.

Bridney’s journey was not without challenges. The SAI Training Centre in Car Nicobar did not have a cycling velodrome or all the equipment required to prepare athletes for national-level competitions. Recognising her potential, coach Sutar took personal initiative to address these shortcomings.

With the assistance of his former trainees, he arranged competition-grade equipment from Thiruvananthapuram and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. These efforts ensured that the lack of adequate local facilities did not stand in the way of Bridney’s progress.

Bridney had earlier won gold at the National Track Cycling Championships held in Chennai during the 2024-25 season. She also secured gold in the team sprint event at the School National Championships in Ranchi. These achievements further strengthened confidence in her abilities.

Coach Sutar’s contribution extended well beyond training. He played a crucial role in identifying her talent, arranging essential equipment and finding practical solutions despite the shortage of basic facilities. His efforts enabled Bridney, who trained on a remote island, to showcase her abilities at the national level.

Recognising the challenges faced by the training centre in Car Nicobar, SAI’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Kolkata played an important role in strengthening Bridney’s preparation. Financial, administrative and technical assistance helped address shortcomings in essential equipment and infrastructure.

Training camps in Thiruvananthapuram and Ranchi, sessions on nutritional awareness and technical guidance from coaches helped make her preparation more structured and effective. This support also created a pathway for talented athletes from remote regions to gain access to better resources and opportunities. Institutional backing for the efforts of grassroots coaches gave Bridney the opportunity to further develop her potential.

Bridney’s latest achievement is not the result of overnight success. During the 2025-26 season, she won a silver medal in the Under-16 and Sub-Junior Girls categories at the National Track Cycling Championships held in Rudrapur. Several strong competitors from across the country, including Maharashtra’s Abha Soman, participated in the event. Bridney also secured silver medals at the School National Championships.

In Ranchi, she took her performance a step further, finishing ahead of prominent competitors such as Florence Devi of Manipur, Gayatri Tambvekar of Maharashtra and Diksha of Rajasthan to establish a new national record.

Around three months ago, Bridney was selected under SAI’s National Centre of Excellence scheme at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. She is currently training there under foreign coach Mark Pakker, where she has access to specialised coaching and opportunities to prepare for high-level competitions. Her ambition is to represent India on the international stage and win a medal at the Asian Games.

Bridney credits coach Sutar with playing a defining role in her success. He introduced her to cycling and consistently supported her during the early stages of her sporting career.

“If coach Sutar had not introduced me to cycling, I would not have reached this stage. My journey would not have been possible without the first opportunity he gave me. He has made an immense contribution to everything I have achieved so far,” she said.

Coach Sutar, too, expressed confidence in Bridney’s future prospects. Speaking to SAI Media, he said, “In my personal assessment, Bridney possesses tremendous talent, determination and potential. I firmly believe that with proper training, facilities and continued support, she will one day be capable of winning a medal at the World Championships.”

Bridney’s journey from the coconut farms of Kinyuka village to the national record books in Ranchi demonstrates that sporting talent can emerge from even the most remote corners of the country. Her achievement reflects the importance of family support, a coach’s commitment and institutional assistance in helping young athletes overcome limited opportunities.

Her journey is about much more than completing a 500-metre cycling event at record speed. It demonstrates how determination, dedicated training and an effective sporting support system can help a young girl from a small, remote island aspire to achieve something significant for the country.

Bridney is now setting her sights on winning medals for India on the international stage.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar