Army bag individual race in championship

Pakistan Army’s M Rafique bags the 40-kilometre individual race in the 58th National Cycling Championship.

KARACHI: Pakistan Army’s Mohammad Rafique bagged the 40-kilometre individual race on the second day of the 58th National Cycling Championship underway in Lahore as Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Wapda qualified for the final in the team sprint event.

Rafique completed the race in 48 minutes and 58 seconds while Wapda’s Zahid Gulfam came in second with 59 minutes and 47 seconds. SSGC’s Nasir Ahmed secured the third place after timing one hour and eight seconds.

Meanwhile, SSGC cyclists covered the three-kilometre distance in one minute and nine seconds to qualify for the final event which will take place on Tuesday. Wapda secured the second place with a difference of two seconds in the finishing time. Pakistan Army and Pakistan Railways finished the team event on the third and fourth positions respectively.

Nine teams will contest the 70-kilometre team time trial event and the four-kilometre pursuit at cycling velodrome today.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2010.