Cycling Athlete Bikhu Patel
The Welsh Squad
Location: Cardiff
Coach: Hilary Holtam
Bikhu is 45 years old. He is a confident all-round athlete, playing football and table tennis. In recent years he has developed a passion for cycling.
Coach Hilary says: “Bikhu is incredibly competitive about his cycling. I’ve coached him since 2004, a year before the national games in Glasgow, and in that time I’ve seen a tremendous improvement in his skill and confidence.”
In Shanghai Bikhu will compete in the 500m, 1km and 5km races. He trains with two other squad members Sandra O’Keefe and Andrew Holdham every Friday. And he keeps up his fitness levels with other sports and regular sessions at the gym.
Head coach Tom A’Hara says: “Cycle racing demands the strength and endurance to take an amount of pain, both muscular and mental. Serious competitors have to put in 80% to 100% effort consistently over the whole course. Bikhu is definitely up to the job.”
In training sessions with the two other world games squad members from Wales, Bikhu is strongly supportive. They formed a close bond as a team in the last SOGB national games in Glasgow.
Coach Hilary says: “Bikhu is the big encourager. He’s there all the time saying “You can do it” and he loves to see the others achieve. He especially looks out for Sandra. They are both sprinters but he’s faster than her and he pushes her to do more.”
In addition to his learning disabilities, Bikhu has a hearing impairment that presents him with an extra challenge, especially in competition. Coach Hilary has to ensure Bikhu has heard race instructions because any misunderstanding could lead to disqualification and a waste of months of dedicated hard work.
Head coach Tom says: “Bikhu is very dedicated to his sport and to his training. He is always looking to push himself further. He’s ambitious and he wants to win.”
TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ATHLETES OR COACHES, PLEASE CONTACT THE SOGB NATIONAL OFFICE.
TELEPHONE: 020 7696 5569 OR EMAIL TO: pr@sogb.org.uk