‘Bijli’ emerges victor in donkey cart race

KARACHI:

The Karachi Commissioner Cup Donkey Cart Race on Sunday was won by a donkey named Bijli.

Abdul Khalid driving Bijli secured first position, Muhammad Javed second, and Shahjehan Durga third position. Khalid received Rs25,000, Javed Rs20,000, and Shahjehan Rs15,000, while each of the 50 participating racers got a cash prize of 1,000 rupees.

The race, part of the Commissioner Karachi Sports Festival, started at the ICI Bridge and concluded at the Commissioner Office on Club Road, passing through MT Khan Road and Sultanabad.

Additional Commissioner Ghulam Mehdi waved the flag to start the race in which more than 50 donkey carts dashed through the roads, with most participants hailing from Lyari.

Following the race,  Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the chief guest at the closing ceremony, distributed prizes among the winners. Wahab said donkey cart racing was part of Karachi’s ancient culture and heritage. He appreciated the love of the people of Lyari for sports and their efforts to preserve their cultural heritage. The mayor expressed his commitment to providing opportunities for youth to engage in positive activities through sports.

Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi emphasized the need to promote sports as a positive activity for the city’s youth. He announced the schedule for the Commissioner Karachi Sports Festival, which includes a hockey tournament on June 25 at the Islahuddin Landi Kotal  Ground in North Nazimabad, followed by prize distribution, a girls’ basketball tournament on June 26; a shooting ball tournament on June 29 at the Korangi Number 5 Shooting Ball Court; and a cycle  race on June 30, starting at 7:30am at the Mazar-e-Quaid and prize distribution at 9am at the Commissioner Office. With additional input by APP