David Beckham joined the blazing saddles of Birmingham 2022 and came sixth in the Commonwealth Games cycling team sprint – riding for India.
In a surprise addition to the velodrome cast, David Beckham Elkatohchoongo - named after the England football deity – revealed he was only allowed in the country after immigration officials double-checked his passport.
Elkatohchoongo and Ronaldo Laitonjam – named after Brazilian legend Ronaldinho – joined forces as India's team sprint trio finished sixth in qualifying at the Games. They could certainly bend it like Beckham on the steeply-banked corners of the Lea Valley VeloPark.
And after his first race at elite level, Elkatohchoongo revealed: "When I got to the airport, the (passport) inspector said, 'Is that really your name, David Beckham? You are lying, you are not David Beckham.
“Then he saw my ID and had to concede that my real name was David Beckham.
“It is because my father was a professional street footballer. When I was in my mum's tummy, in the hospital my dad said, 'When the baby is taken out, he shall be named David Beckham.'
"I am a big fan of the English David Beckham because he was such a good player, my father loved him and is a really big fan of him.
“I would love to win a medal and meet him because I am in his country. My father and I would be so happy.
“Of course, I want to win - if you pedal well, you get good things back."
India's 44.702sec in the men's team sprint was not quite enough to make the medal races, but Laitonjam was equally thrilled to be standard-bearer for another famous footballing name.
He said: "My father was a really big football fan of the Brazilian Ronaldinho. When I was born in 2002, I think my father made a big bet on Ronaldo. He kicked a goal and I just came out, and that's how my father made my name Ronaldo.
"Of course the name gives me confidence. Ronaldinho and Ronaldo are champions. I'm lucky that I'm carrying that name and following my path to be a champion."
