First phase of Tour de Galiyat Cycling Race concludes

ABBOTTABAD: The first phase of the two-day spectacular Tour de Galiyat National Cycling Race concluded here on Tuesday.
Habibullah and Awais Khan of the Sui Southern Gas Pipeline Limited (SSGPL) stood first and second respectively, while Nisar Khan from Wapda clinched the third position after they left all the competitors far behind in the thrilling cycling race.
Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Advisor to KP Chief Minister Amjad Afridi formally inaugurated the race at Sports Complex, Islamabad.The Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association (KPCA) have jointly organised the event to promote tourism in the province and also send a message of peace to the world.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Additional Secretary Sports & Tourism Muhammad Tariq, General Manager (Events) Muhammad Ali Syed, General Manager (Properties) Sajjad Hameed, TCKP Managing Director Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Secretary Pakistan Cycling Federation Syed Azhar Ali Shah, KPCA president Nisar Ahmed and secretary Taifur Zarin, DG Pakistan Sports Board Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjir and other officials and a large number of spectators were present on the occasion.
Seventy-eight cyclists from nine teams hailing from Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, SSGPL, Wapda and Pakistan Army participated in the race.
The enthusiastic cyclists started pedaling their bikes from Sports Complex, Islamabad, and reached Abbottabad via the ancient Wah Cantt, Taxila and Hassanabdal cities on the Grand Trunk Road and Harripur and Havelian in the scenic Hazara division in an effort to win the race.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that steps would be taken for the promotion of cycling race across the country to engage youth in the healthy and positive activities.
Advisor to KP Chief Minister Amjad Afridi said that his department was working on various programmes to promote sports, tourism and culture on one hand and attract players and tourists to the province on the other.
Later, Cash prizes and awards were given to the winners at Abbottabad.The concluding ceremony will be held at Nathiagali and Advisor to KP Chief Minister Amjad Afridi, and Secretary for Sports & Tourism Azam Khan will attend the event.