The town of Roing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley is gearing up to host the 22nd National Mountain Terrain Biking (MTB) Championship from February 12 to 15, with over 450 cyclists from across India registered to compete. This marks the first time Arunachal Pradesh hosts this event, which includes competitions for various age groups: Youth (14 and under), Sub-junior (15-16), Junior (17-18), Under-23 men, and Elite (19 and above). A total of 23 events will take place, alongside mixed team relay races in junior and elite categories. Participants must have a valid rider’s license from the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) to compete. The MTB course is set, featuring challenging terrain, including a 1.9-km downhill track and a 3.8-km stretch near the Eze River, both of which have been described as tough yet exciting. Local MLA Mutchu Mithi expressed confidence in the event’s success, noting extensive preparations have been made, supported by various government departments.
The Arunachal Cycling Association (ACA) is organizing the championship, with Vice President Wangdi Dorjee Khrimey acknowledging the support received and addressing local residents about the event’s potential impact on tourism and the town’s population. A temporary games village has been established to accommodate participants, featuring necessary amenities. The event is expected to significantly enhance national rankings for mountain biking and could potentially lead to international competition opportunities for top performers. Officially commencing at 9 am on February 12, the championship promises to put Arunachal Pradesh on the map in the sports domain. In a separate incident, two coal mine owners were arrested following a fatal explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills, raising the death toll to 30. Further arrests and enforcement actions against illegal mining activities are ongoing, with authorities taking measures including a joint search operation, compensation disbursements for victims’ families, and planning future crackdowns on mining violations.
