Esow in the fast lane

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 20

Esow Alban looked up to his coach RK Sharma when asked about his current ranking. “Sir will know the latest,” he said. Asked for his contact details, he said: “You can take sir’s number instead. Mine is mostly switched off.”

From the time he has shifted to the Sports Authority of India’s National Cycling Academy, Esow has been living a disciplined life. No mobile phones or indulging in activities that may hamper his training or recovery process. His parents too have been kept at an arm’s length — they can talk to him only twice a week. “Sir, aage jaane ke liye karna padega (one has to do this to advance in career),” said the 17-year-old, who will be part of the Indian Elite team at the Track Asia Cup, to be held here on September 21-23. Esow made history last month when he won a silver medal in the Keirin format to become the first Indian medallist in the Junior Track Cycling World Championships, in Aigle, Switzerland.

“When I finished the race I looked up to my sir. He raised his fists and then I thought I did something good,” said the accidental cyclist, who was first enrolled to train as a rower at Netaji Sports Complex, Port Blair. “Then I got the Indian flag and took a round. I had never experienced that high in my life. It was an unbelievable feeling. I felt proud that I did something good for our country.”

Off the boat

After a not-so-impressive rowing trial in 2014, Esow was asked to join training and soon had a brand new boat. But he switched over to cycling in 2014. “Despite not doing well in the trials, the coaches picked me. I was asked whether I knew swimming and then the next question was whether I can travel outside for competitions,” he said. “I got very excited as I had not seen anything other than the (Andaman and Nicobar) islands in my life. It gave me an opportunity to travel outside.” 

“I got a new boat. I was put in a boat with a senior girl. I trained for a month with her. Then when my friends and a few seniors shifted to cycling, I too shifted as I felt alone,” he said.

The switch

But the switch took time to adjust. Disappointments followed. He failed to get a position in the road race at the 2015 Sub Junior Nationals Track Cycling Championships in Thiruvananthapuram. But a silver in track got him a ticket to the national academy.

Life is on the upswing for him ever since. Prior to the silver medal at the Worlds, Esow won gold medals in the junior Keirin and sprint events and team gold in junior sprint at the Asian Track Cycling Championship in Nilai, Malaysia, in February this year. He is currently ranked third in sprints and second in Keirin.