Sindh cycling factions unite

KARACHI: In a landmark development Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) successfully unified the two parallel Sindh Cycling Associations (SCA) at a meeting here at the PSB Coaching Centre on Sunday.

The meeting was headed by the PCF secretary Azhar Ali Shah.

There were two groups working in Sindh for the last few years which was hurting the progress of cycling in the province.

One group was being led by Danish Baloch as president with Baran Baloch as his secretary. This group was affiliated with the Sindh Olympic Association (SOA). Malik Raja Abdul Haq was the president of the other group which is affiliated with the PCF.

Azhar said that the main purpose of the federation was to work wholeheartedly for the sport development. “We are not going to indulge in any politics. We want to serve the sport purely on merit. Sindh is a key unit of the PCF and I am thankful to the cycling fraternity of the province for their initiative to get united. The step will promote cycling in Pakistan,” Shah told ‘The News’.

Setting aside their differences both groups decided to work together for the betterment of the cyclists.

Raja told ‘The News’ that the differences between the two groups had been damaging the sport. “We are very happy today that we are sitting together,” Raja said. “It’s really a great day for the cycling fraternity of Sindh,” he added.

His secretary Javed Khan said that it was necessary for the welfare of the riders. “The unity will boost the sport. Sindh has been producing top riders. It’s a major nursery which is preparing cyclists for national duty. There are around 90 top-level cyclists in Sindh. More than 30 have got licences,” the official said.

Baran Baloch told ‘The News’ on phone that he was happy with the development. “The sport could not bear the division any further,” Baran said.

The workers of both groups appreciated the efforts of the PCF.

The unification will now enable the riders to feature in the PCF-sanctioned national events.

The PCF headed by Shah is recognised by UCI, the international cycling governing body.

Danish group was given a seat of the senior vice-president of the SCA, one vice-president, joint secretary and finance secretary.

The SCA chief also announced that an event would be conducted from Karachi to Mirpurkhas early next year.

Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) senior sports official Col Saad Ibnul Hasan was also present on the occasion.