Alena Reji
{{short description|Indian cyclist (born 1999)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Alena Reji
| image = UCI Track World Championships 2018 099.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Alena Reji (February 2018)
| fullname =
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|5|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Omassery, Kerala
| height = {{height|cm=160}}
| weight = {{cvt|53|kg|lb|0}}
| currentteam =
| discipline = Track
| role = Rider
| ridertype =
| amateuryears1 =
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| medaltemplates =
| show-medals =
| updated =
}}
Alena Reji (born 9 May 1999) is an Indian cyclist who specializes in track cycling. She comes from Thiruvambady, Kerala.
Early life
Reji is the daughter of Reji Cherian and was gifted a cycle to save time while going to school.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/other/2017/feb/13/post-asian-distinction-aleena-hopes-for-faster-wheels-1569996.html|title=Post Asian distinction, Aleena hopes for faster wheels|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2018-07-07}}
Career
At the age of 12, Reji was selected by the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC) and moved to Thiruvananthapuram. Chandran Chettiar from KSSC is her coach.
In the 37th Asia Track cycling championship 2017, Reji bagged a bronze medal in the 500m time trial in the junior women category. This medal was the second for India in the sport.{{cite news |title=Alena brings second medal for India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/Alena-brings-second-medal-for-India/article17244034.ece |accessdate=7 July 2018 |work=The Hindu |date=8 February 2017 |language=en-IN}}
In the Track Asia Cup 2016, Reji won a silver beating Jantuganova Olga from Uzbekistan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cycling/india-wins-6-medals-opening-day-track-asia-cup-2016|title=India wins 6 medals on opening day of the Track Asia Cup 2016|date=2016-09-14|access-date=2018-07-07}}
Reji was also selected to participate in the 38th Senior Asian Track Championship held in Malaysia in 2018. She clocked 34.845 seconds and finished 6th failing to qualify. The best 4 made it the next round.{{Cite news|url=https://sportstalk24.com/asian-track-cycling-championship-2018/|title=Asian Track Cycling Championship 2018 - SportsTalk24|work=SportsTalk24|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-US}}
She was nominated for the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn, where she went with Deborah Herold in the team sprint at the start. The duo finished last.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/uci-track-world-championships-2018/day-1/results/|title=UCI Track World Championships 2018: Day 1 Results {{!}} Cyclingnews.com|work=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=2018-07-07|language=en-gb}}