Cycling: Pakistan to take part in Asian Championship

Team’s training camp underway for past six weeks, says PCF president.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) President Munawar Baseer Ahmad has confirmed the national cycling team’s participation in the 33rd Asian Cycling Championship to be held from March 5-17 in New Delhi, India.

The official said in order to prepare the cyclists for the competition, a camp is already underway from the last six weeks in Lahore, where cyclists from the different units were staying at the Pakistan Coaching Center.

“Our national team, including both men and women, will take part in the Asian Championship,” Baseer told The Express Tribune.

“The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has provided facilities to the cyclists. The PSB has also agreed to provide No-Objection Certificates to the cycling team, as the PCF is recognised by them as well as the Union Cyclist International, and the Asian Cycling Confederation.”

The invitation for the Pakistan cycling team to participate at the event – which will be hosted by the Cycling Federation of India – was received from the Asian Cycling Council’s (ACC) organising committee last month.

In the men’s senior category, Noor Alam, Habib Ullah, Nqimat Ali, Sohail Majeed, Asif Junior, Abdullah Aslam, Ghulam Abbad and Imran Shoqat are in the training camp. Meanwhile, Malaika Malik, Razia Shabbir and Maham Tariq are undergoing practice in the women’s category.

Meanwhile, PCF Secretary Syed Azhar Ali Shah explained that since Wapda and Railway cyclists have not joined the training camp, they have been deemed ineligible for the selection in the National Cycling Team.

The selection committee will meet on Monday 25 after the conclusion of the National Cycling Championship – which begins today – to finalise the names for national team, which is expected to consist of about 10 male and two female cyclists.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2013.