NewzVille Desk
Every Sports person has a story behind a medal. For 16-year-old I. S. Bridney from Car Nicobar, that story is one of determination, family sacrifices, a coach’s belief and an institutional support system that refused to let geographical barriers limit her dreams.
At the 78th senior, 55th junior and 41st sub-junior nationals track cycling championships, held at Khelgaon, Ranchi, Jharkhand, on November 3, 2026, Bridney achieved a remarkable milestone.
Competing in the sub-junior girls’ 500m Individual Time Trial, she clocked 37.479 seconds, breaking the previous record of 38.700 seconds, held by Trisha Paul, who has medalled at the Asian Cup and Asian Track Cycling Championships.
For a teenager who began her sporting journey without access to a cycling velodrome or competition-standard facilities, the gold-winning effort with a national record represents much more than a medal. It is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance.
“I was in good shape during my training under coach Vishwajit Balkrishna Sutar at SAI, Car Nicobar. I was expecting to perform well, but I never thought of the national record. I just tried to perform at my best,” Bridney told SAI to Media.
Bridney hails from Kinyuka village in Car Nicobar and belongs to a modest family. Her mother, Junia, is a homemaker, while her father, Ruther, earns a livelihood through coconut farming and the sale of copra. For a family dependent on traditional farming and limited means, supporting a child’s sporting ambitions has not always been easy.
Yet, her parents stood behind her dream. Initially interested in football and the 100-metre sprint, Bridney discovered her potential in cycling during selection trials in November 2022. Coach Sutar recognised her promise and introduced her to the sport. She was subsequently inducted into the SAI Training Centre in Car Nicobar in 2023, where she received foundational training and developed her cycling skills.
