Cycle race: Athletes pedal from Sohrab Goth to Gulbai

The athletes were from relatively impoverished parts of the city and one was from Sukkur.

KARACHI: The 100 men who participated in Pedal for Peace had dirty trousers, worn out shoes, but had expensive bicycles.

It was a beautiful day, there was a cool breeze, prediction of a light shower and the Lyari Expressway was closed for traffic. Yet, at the end of the race, the mood of the cyclists was somber. All of them had financial concerns.

The race began from Sohrab Goth and ended at Gulbai. The cyclists covered the entire stretch of Lyari Expressway.

Sameer Ahmed, 22, stood first. He travelled the entire distance in 19 minutes and 46 seconds. “I have been cycling for the past ten years,” he said. “It’s not easy to keep yourself physically fit. We have to train daily for hours and stay away from cigarettes.”

He was among the many boys who cycled their way to Sohrab Goth from Lyari early in the morning for the race. Others came from Landhi and Korangi. “Such events should be organised regularly to encourage people who want to become athletes,” he said.

The prize money for the winner was Rs10,000. “The prize money will not last 15 days,” he said. “Please ask the government to give me a job.” For now, Ahmed works at a cycle repair shop of a friend.

After winning many local competitions one after the other, he secured a job at the Sui Southern Gas Company. But he was fired after a while. It has been two years since then.

Cycling is an expensive sport. Ahmed said his cost Rs80,000. “All thanks to my sister who saved money somehow and gifted it to me,” he said. “I could have never afforded it on my own.”

Only one cyclist, 27-year-old Abdul Jabbar, was from outside Karachi. He had come all the way from Sukkur. “I am an employee of Continental Biscuits,” he said. “My boss allowed me to take leave for taking part in the race.”

Jabbar was confident that the participants could win international races for the country as well. “We just need proper training and guidance.”

The race was jointly organised by National Highway Authority (NHA), highway police and an NGO called Firdous Ittehad.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2012.