The participation of a budding cyclist selected to represent India in the Asian Road Cycling Championships 2026 is in jeopardy due to the non-issuance of a visa. The competition is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from February 5 to 13, 2026.

The athlete was selected by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) after a thorough selection process. Despite submitting all the necessary visa-related documents on time and in accordance with the prescribed procedures, the Saudi visa has not yet been issued. The situation has become extremely critical for the athlete and his family.

Fearing the future of his son’s sporting career, Mr Vikas Tyagi, the father of the selected athlete, issued an emotional plea to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Saudi Arabian authorities for urgent intervention in the matter.

“Despite completing all formalities well in advance, including visa application and submission of required documents, the Saudi Arabia visa has not yet been granted. The Cycling Federation of India is already actively involved and has extended official support for visa facilitation. However, due to the proximity of the event dates, the delay now poses a serious risk of my son missing this prestigious international championship.

“This championship is of great importance, not only for my son’s sporting career but also for India’s representation at the Asian level. Years of preparation and national selection are at stake due to circumstances beyond the athlete’s control”, Mr Tyagi wrote in a letter, appealing to the authorities to facilitate expedited issuance of the sports/event visa.

The Cycling Federation of India is already actively involved in this matter, and all the necessary documents, including the selection letter and competition details, have been provided to the relevant authorities.

The Asian Road Cycling Championships are a crucial international competition for an athlete’s career and hold special significance for Indian cycling at the Asian level. Missing this opportunity solely due to administrative delays would be unfortunate for both the athlete and the country, especially when selection was based solely on merit.

The family has requested the relevant authorities (MEA, Saudi Embassy, ​​and visa processing agencies) to coordinate and expedite the visa process so that the athlete can participate on time and represent India on internationl stage. Despite time running out, the family hopes that timely intervention will allow the athlete to shine on the Asian stage with the Indian flag.