November 11, 2001	Sunday	Shaba’an 24, 1422

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LAHORE, Nov 10: Wapda retained its title for the seventh consecutive time after claiming 206 points to win the 51st National Cycling Championship which concluded at the country’s only Velodrome Saturday.

Two finals were decided on the last day and Wapda claimed gold medals in both the events making their total tally of six golds from total seven events.Wapda also claimed two silver and as many bronze medals to give its arch rival Army a clear defeat. Army could earn one gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Army bagged 105 points.

Wapda which had won four gold medals till Friday, clinched two more medals on Saturday to stamp their supremacy.

First, Zulifqar Ali who was declared the fastest cyclist of the competition, earned a gold medal for Wapda in the 1000 metres sprint, clocking 12.9 seconds. However, Zulifqar Ali failed to maintain his previous timing of 11.84 seconds which he had been doing since 1992.

Zulifqar Ali, faced a close fight from Army’s Sakhawat Ali who claimed the silver medal, clocking 12.86 seconds. Abid Husain, also from Army, finished third with 12.91 seconds.

In the 4km team pursuit final, the Wapda team recovered to beat Army to win their sixth gold.

Wapda quartet of Zulifqar Ali, Dilsher Ali, Haroon Rasheed and Mohammad Bashir clocked four minutes 55.56 seconds to gain the top spot. Till the first five rounds, Wapda were conceding a lead of about five seconds to the Army. But from there onwards they started to accelerate the speed which helped to gradually decrease the lead. The Wapda team had gained a commanding position by the start of the 10th round.

The Army team of Amjad Ali, Sakhawat Ali, Javed Anwer and Mohammad Saleem clocked five minute 3.03 seconds to claim the second spot.

The Railways team of Mohammad Ramzan, Allah Ditta, Ghulam Hakim and Mohammad Asif covered the distance in five minutes 11.40 seconds to earn the third position.

Haroon Rasheed of Wapda was declared the champion of the individual event.

In the women’s category which was introduced for the first time although its points were not accounted in making the team’s position, Taskeen of Army was declared the best cyclist with 11 points. She clinched only one gold and two silver medals. Punjab’s Raheela Bano who earned two gold medals but could make 10 points was the second best cyclist of the championship.

Saturday’s results:

1000 metres sprint; Zulifqar Ali (Wapda) 12.09 sec, 2. Sakhawat Ali (Army), 3. Abid Husain (Army).

4000 m team pursuit: Wapda (Zulifqar Ali, Dilsher Ali, Haroon Rasheed, Mohammad Bashir) four minutes 55.56 seconds. 2.Army (Amjad Ali, Sakhawat Ali, Javed Anwer, Mohammad Saleem) five minutes 3.03 seconds. 3. Railways (Mohammad Ramzan, Allah Ditta, Ghulam Hakim, Mohammad Asif) five minutes 11.40 seconds.

1st: Wapda with 206 points (six gold, two silver, two bronze).

2nd: Army with 105 points (one gold, five silver, three bronze).

3rd: Railways with 63 point (one silver, two bronze).