Want to watch David Beckham ride a bike? Well, if you stop by Stratford Velodrome this weekend, you can see it in action during the Commonwealth Games track cycling event.

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Okay, so it’s not actually David Beckham himself running for pedal power. But within the ranks of Indian cycling there is a rider named after the former England and Manchester United star.

David Beckham Elkatohchoongo – born September 20, 2003 – took part in the men’s team sprint on Friday on the opening day of the Olympics, finishing sixth in the seven-nation qualifying stage. And he played again on Saturday afternoon in the men’s Keirin and then in the men’s sprint.

David Beckham hails from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in southern India and only started the sport five years ago. The 18-year-old lost his father in the 2004 tsunami and his mother died 10 years later, leaving him to live with his grandfather ever since.

When she arrived in the UK this month, she experienced a bit of passport drama with immigration officials having to recheck her visa. David Beckham Elkatohchoongo revealed, “When I got to the airport, the inspector said, ‘Is that really your name David Beckham? You’re lying, you’re not David Beckham.”

“Then he saw my ID and had to admit my real name was David Beckham. That’s because my dad was a professional street footballer. When I was in my mum’s womb at the hospital, my father said, “When the baby comes out, his name will be David Beckham.

“I’m a big fan of David Beckham from England because he’s a very good player, my dad loves him and is a big fan of him. I want to win a medal and meet him because I’m in his country. My father and I would be very happy.”

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If that’s not unique enough, then India – chasing a first Commonwealth cycling medal – have also selected Ronaldo Singh Laitonjam for the event in East London. However, the 20-year-old world junior cycling champion is not named after Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo or Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo.

Instead, the inspiration for his name came from his family watching Ronaldinho score a magical goal for Brazil against England in the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup in Japan. Singh’s father is believed to have received a call from his wife just as Ronaldinho’s free-kick from 40 yards went in, informing him that she had given birth.

”When the ball went into the goal, I would have started to appear. I think my dad made some money that day. Maybe that’s why I got that name. He felt that I was very lucky for him,” Ronaldo Singh said.

(aww)