SSGC star cyclist Sabir Ali displayed exemplary to win the 4th SSGC Independence Day Karachi-Hyderabad Cycle Race. Sabir reached the finish point in 3 hrs 7 mins and 43 seconds to secure the first place.
Hot in the heels was WAPDA's Nazeer Bhatti who also clocked 3 hrs, 7 minutes and 43 seconds to secure the second position followed by his fellow department mate Abdul Ahad who ended his campaign in 3 hrs and 10 minutes. Overall SSGC gave a superlative performance as its veteran cyclist Naimat Ali clinched the fourth spot while WAPDA's Zahid Gulfam and Nisar Ahmed of Balochistan finished fifth and sixth respectively.
Apart from the hosts SSGC, 46 riders representing departments WAPDA, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Railway and provinces Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and NWFP gathered this morning under an inflated arch in front of the SSGC Head Office Building to cover the challenging 144km course.
For at least 40km most cyclists moved together. Around the 60km mark Sabir Ali broke from the close-knit group that started the proceedings to surpass other riders. Sabir maintained a healthy lead throughout the race and kept his riders at bay. Only runner-up Nazeer Bhatti of WAPDA gave Sabir a fight till the end but Sabir the eventual winner rode on relentlessly.
The race got over at 12:45 pm at PSO Sitar-e-Hilal Fuel Station before the Hyderabad toll plaza. Earlier, Mr. Moeed-uz-Zafar, Acting Managing Director, SSGC formally flagged off the race at 9.45 am from SSGC Head Office in Karachi.
Engr. Naeem-ur-Rahman Akhoond, Senior General Manager, Management Services, SSGC and President SSGC Sports Board, Mr. Idrees Hyder Khwaja, Secretary General, Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), Azhar Ali Shah, President NWFP Cycling Association and Tariq Alvi, Marshal of the race were also present at the opening ceremony.
A large contingent of SSGC's senior managers and other employees were in full force to spur up the riders all the way to the finish point. Cycling aficionados including SSGC management, officials and fans from each team set off together with the riders in their cars, mini-vans and SUVs as they cheered the cyclists till the finish line.
Speaking to the press at the Opening Ceremony in the morning, Engr. Naeem-ur-Rahman Akhoond, Senior General Manager, Management Services, SSGC said that while the Company has been making tremendous efforts to promote cycling, cricket and hockey, it is also contributing towards endorsing football in the country since this was one sports that needed to flourish at the grassroots level.
At the Closing Ceremony convened at SSGC Hyderabad's Regional Office, Pervez Yousuf Qureshi, MNA Hyderabad appreciated the efforts of SSGC in promoting cycling in Pakistan. Addressing the audience, Engr. Naeem-ur-Rahman Akhoond, President SSGC Sports Board said that SSGC had organised the 4th Independence Day Cycle Race out of its own resources and without any sponsorship. This clearly spoke of SSGC's unfaltering commitment towards making the sport flourish in the country, said Engr. Naeem-ur-Rehman Akhoond. Idrees Hyder Khwaja, Secretary General, Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), Shaukat Baloch, General Manager (Distribution) Sindh, SSGC and Zubair Ahmed, Secretary, SSGC Sports Board were also present at the closing ceremony.
Winner Sabir Ali was awarded with the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000 while WAPDA's Nazeer Bhatti and Abdul Ahad won Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively. Rs 5000 was awarded to the 4th, 5th and 6th spot cyclists.
SSGC's Security Department, Sindh Police and National Highway Patrol made excellent arrangements to ensure that the race progressed smoothly till the finish point. SSGC has played a proactive role in the promotion of cycling in Pakistan for a number of years. Its Managing Director, Munawar Baseer Ahmad who is also Vice President, Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) is a great cycling enthusiast who has played a vital role in patronising the sport in Pakistan.
In March 2007, SSGC organised Pakistan's biggest cycling extravaganza the 13th Tour de Pakistan International Cycle in collaboration with Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), that saw national and international riders covering a gruelling 1,648km distance from Karachi to Peshawar.
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