Odisha women cyclists Swasti Singh and Barsarani Barik made India proud by winning one gold and one silver medal each on the opening day of the Track Asia Cup 2026, a UCI Class 2 (Continental Level) event, taking place at the TNPESU Cycling Velodrome in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) from January 29 to 31.

Swasti justified her reputation as the best woman cyclist of the country, bagging the gold in 4 km individual pursuit and the silver in elimination race. In the women elite 4km individual pursuit, she clocked 5:28.692. Samira Ismailova (Uzbekistan) and Meenakshi (India) bagged the silver and bronze medal respectively.

Swasti secured the silver medal in the elimination race, finishing second behind Nafosat Kozieva (Uzbekistan) and ahead of Samira Ismailova (Uzbekistan). With the addition of the gold and silver, the total number of international medals for Swasti rose to six, which features two gold, two silver and two bronze.

Barsa emerged as the new woman cycling star of the country, winning the gold medal in 1 km individual time trial and the silver in team sprint. The stellar achievement by Barsa assumed added significance as she did it on her international debut.

Representing India Team B, Barsa grabbed the 1km ITT gold with a career-best time of 01:15.875. She beat National champion C Rangaswamy, who secured the silver medal for Indian National team, clocking 01:16.025. The bronze went to Siti Sarah Binte Mohammed Yusoff of Singapore (01:19.512).

Barsa also spearheaded India Team B to the silver medal in team sprint. Shweta Balu Gunjal and Mayuri Dhanraj Lute were other two members of the team. With the Track Asia Cup gold and silver, Barsh also created history as she became the first sportsperson from Bhadrak district to win an international medal in a mainstream sports discipline.

Hailing from the home district of current Odisha Sports Minister, Suryabanshi Suraj, 24-year-old Barsha has been honing her skill at the SAI National Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, Assam. She credited her international medals to NCoE head coach Narendra Kumar Singh, coach Mayank Patel, and her first coach, mentor and promoter Manoranjan Barik.

“I have no words to express how proud Barsa has made me, our district, state and the country. Daughter of a daily wage earner, she started her career as a footballer and represented the district in the Inter-District Women Championship. But after realizing that her efforts as a talented striker was not yielding the desired success in a team sport, we advised her to pursue an individual sport. The rest is history now,’’ said Barik, who is also the secretary of Bhadrak District Cycling Association (BDCA).

“Without competitive cycles, basic infrastructure and financial support, BDCA struggled a lot to groom a bunch of girls in cycling. But hard work, dedication and perseverance did not go to waste. The girls have gone on to win medals in National championships, National Games and Asia Cup,” added Barik.
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PHOTO: Odisha cyclists Swasti Singh (Left) and Barsarani Barik pose with their medals at the Track Asia Cup in Chennai on 29 January 2026.