Matribhumi Samachar English
Hyderabad, 6th August 2025: In a bold move, India’s top para-cyclists, led by international medalist Aryavardhan Cheelampalli, have filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court against the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) for discrimination, negligence, and blatant favoritism.
Despite qualifying performances, Aryavardhan was denied a World Championship slot, putting his Asian and Commonwealth Games chances in jeopardy.
Key issues raised include:
* Refusal to bid for 2026 Paracycling World Cup
* Eight lost medals due to admin delays in athlete classification
* Nepotism—officials sending their own children without trials
* Suppression of paracyclists achievements on official platforms
* Verbal admissions of guilt, but no written accountability
When approached, even SAI shockingly directed the complaint back to the accused official.
We want justice not just for us, but for the future of para-sports in India, said Aryavardhan Cheelampalli.
Petitioners demand government intervention, an independent probe into CFI, and a clean-up of corrupt practices in Indian para-sport governance.
- 8 Medals Lost Due to Late Documents – Delayed athlete classification submissions led to 4 para-cyclists missing the Asian Championship, losing 8 potential medals.
- Cycling Federation of India Refused to Host World Cup – Ignored a golden opportunity to host the 2026 Paracycling World Cup—costing India crucial Paralympic qualification chances, despite Andhra Pradesh government backing.
- Championship Shift Ignored Accessibility – Venue shifted from accessible Hyderabad to Haryana; para-athlete concerns were ignored and shifted to Haryana to favor chairman’s son, and the event was ultimately canceled.
- No Recognition of Para Achievements – Despite 8 medals at the Asian Championship, CFI suppressed athlete achievements while celebrating junior able-bodied bronze medalists.
- Nepotism in Team Selection – Committee chairman misused his position to send his ineligible son to an international event without trials or UCI clearance.
- Verbal Apologies, No Written Accountability – CFI admitted fault in meetings but offered Coach Aditya Mehta a post instead of addressing issues formally—he refused.
- Family Monopoly in CFI – Leadership is run by one family—father, son, and daughter-in-law—raising serious conflict of interest and power abuse.
- Complaints Sent Back to the Accused – Grievances submitted to SAI and the Sports Ministry were routed back to the very CFI official accused of misconduct.
- Obstruction of Future Competitions – CFI leadership delayed athlete entries again, causing missed participation in 2025 World Cups in Belgium and Italy.
- Deliberate Deletion of Evidence – Critical messages and para-related updates were deleted from official WhatsApp groups — whistleblowers are ready to testify.
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