Barakzai shines in qualifying cycle race

KABUL (PAN): Hashmatullah Barakzai qualified for the national cycling team after securing first position in a three-day race from Kabul to northern Badakhshan, officials said on Thursday.

Upto 45 competitors from 15 provinces participated in the 540-kilometre, five- phase long race, that completed at Faizabad, the capital of Badkhshan, on Wednesday evening, Afghan Cycling Federation head, Mohammad Sadiq Sadiqi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Barakzai from Maidan Wardak province won the race, with Hashmatullah Tokhi from Kabul securing the second position and Ramin Raufi from Balkh province at the third position, Sadiqi said.

Fifteen best cyclists would qualify for the national team, he said.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Badakhshan Governor Shah Waliullah Adil urged the youth to take part in similar healthy events.

Barakzai has participated in races across the world, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka during his five year old career. He has already bagged one gold and two bronze.

The Afghan cycling team is to participate in South Asian Federation (SAF) games scheduled to start in the next two months, Sadiqi said.

myn/ma

Visits: 1