Pakistan primed for Asian cycling event

Four male, two females to take part in the road event starting Tuesday.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s eight-member team is all set to take part in the road event of the 2015 Asian Cycling Championship, which will begin on Tuesday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

The team comprises four male riders including Namat Ali, Zeeshan Ali, Habibullah, Sajid Muhammad and two female cyclists, Rahila Bano and Rajia Shabbir.

“We underwent tough training in the past two months,” Habibullah, who is participating in the international event for the first time, told The Express Tribune. “Our coaches kept us on our toes throughout the camp.”

He added that he has witnessed a clear change in himself and other team members before and after the training camp.

Meanwhile, manager Moazzam Ali Khan said that participation in the international competition will instil much-needed confidence in the national riders. “We are far behind other Asian countries in terms of results, but our team’s participation in this event will enhance the experience and technique of the cyclists who are keen on learning the finer skills of cycling,” he said.

Moazzam further said that due to the lack of an international level Velodrome, the cyclists are taking part in the road event only.

Pakistan Sports Board Director General Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera is the chef de mission of the team, while Ishtiaq Mobeen and Mehmood Aslam will accompany the contingent as coach and mechanic respectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2015.

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