Srinagar Sep,13: A Men’s Cycling Rally was flagged off from Showkat Ali Stadium Baramulla on Tuesday.
The second edition of this annual event was conducted under the ageis of Dagger Division in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir Cycle Association (JKCA), which has given the opportunity to all the participants to experience the blend of adventure and sportsmanship.
The event witnessed participation from each section of the society and participants from various part of the country. It marks a watershed moment in the history of cycling in Kashmir to organise such an event.
In this adventurous event, a total of 357 adventure enthusiast cycliststook part in the event out of which 33 riders were from outside J&K. It marked the participation from major cities of India to include Amritsar, Chandigarh, Delhi,Pune and Bangalore, making a glorious mark in the history of cycling races. The participants cycled all the way from Baramulla to Kaman Post, Uri covering a distance of 75 Kms in the arduous terrain of Jammu & Kashmir commemorating the 75 years of Indian Independence.
The Race had three categories to include MTB, Road and Over 40 category. All the categories witnessed tough competition in which riders competed against each other to prove their mettle. The flag off ceremony was held at Showkat Ali Stadium where Maj Gen Ajay Chandpuria, VSM flagged off the riders to make a mark in their respective categories. Other prominent personalities present during the event included Bhaskar Billa, DIG (NKR), Mohammad Rayees Bhat, SSP Baramulla who both participated in the event.
Touseef Raina, Chairman Municipal Corporation was also present during the event.The closing ceremony held at Kaman Post evoked exuberant response from the participants, parents, guardians and locals alike.
The Rally also saw zeal inparticipation from the kids, youngest boy-wonder to participate in the event was of 6 years and 2 months and fastest to complete the Race was Master Dawa from Ladakh.
The event culminated with prize distribution ceremony by Maj Gen Ajay Chandpuria, VSM, GOC, 19 Inf Div who appreciated their sportsman spirit & fervour of participation and motivated them for their bright and colourful future. He thanked the participants for making the event a grand success and promised that Indian Army will continue to organise such events in future as well.
This remarkable event symbolizes as an special achievement in making the roots stronger between Indian Army & the people of Kashmir. The cyclists vowed to return again next year in bigger numbersto further deepen the bond forged with Indian Army.
