Guyanese female cyclist, Naomi Singh, began riding at an early age. Now 21, she has already made her mark on the local and regional cycling scene. From falling down during races to road accidents, the disciplined and persistent rider has faced many challenges, but has always kept her eyes set on the finish line.
Naomi, an East Coast native, was born Feb 12, 1992. In 2007, at the age of fifteen, she received the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) ‘Most Outstanding Female Rider’ award. It was through the Teach Them Young cycle programme, organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, that Naomi received training and her first cycle.
At the 2008 National Schools’ Cycling Championships, Naomi won the coveted gold medal in the girls’ open 25km cycle road race. At the 2009 George Cumberbatch Memorial race meet, held at the National Park, she won the female clash ahead of Abigail Humphrey, daughter of former national star, the late Troy Humphrey.
Later that year, in June, she participated in the annual P&P Insurance Brokers Cycling Programme where there was no female category due to the lack of participants, but the lone female rider, then 16 years old, rode in the Boys 12-14 Years 3-lap race and finished in second place. A few months later, in October 2009, she participated in the Inter Guiana Games (IGG) in Suriname where she placed third and took home the bronze medal.
Over the years, Naomi enjoyed many more triumphs. In March 2010 at the Cheddi Jagan Memorial Road Race, she rode her way to victory in the ladies’ category. Other wins include first place at the 2010 Annual Universal Auto and General Supplies’ Cycling Programme and the 50th National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships.
In October 2011 at the Leslie King Memorial Cycle Classic in Trinidad, she secured second position. She then won first place at the 2011 IGG road race held in Guyana. Naomi was also the only female among four cyclists who represented Guyana at the 2011 International Easter Fest cycling championship in Trinidad.
Naomi was one of three cyclists to be awarded a special prize at the Caribbean Cycling Championships in October 2012 in Antigua for their courage in participating in the gruelling ‘Ride for Life’ 266-mile event five-stage cycling meet. That same year Naomi was the first female to cross the finish line at the Roraima Bikers Club (RBC)/Digicel/Avon Breast Cancer Awareness 25-lap cycle road race.
