BAHAWALPUR: Both Nadir Magsi and Tushna Patel, the defending champions, maintained their supremacy in their respective categories in the 15th Cholistan Jeep Rally by securing first positions in the annual event held at the Derawar Fort, some 70km from here on Sunday.

As per official results announced at the prize-distribution ceremony, seasoned racer Magsi covered the total 466kms distance in two rounds in four hours, 28 minutes and 50 seconds (4.28.50).

Earlier, Mr Magsi had also topped the rally’s prepaid category’s first round (220kms) held on Friday at the Derawar Fort.

Racers Asif Fazal and Faisal stood second and third, respectively, in the main prepaid category. Asif covered the distance in four hours, 37 minutes and 49 seconds (4.37.49) while Faisal it four hours, 39 minutes and 41 seconds (4.39.41).

Total 75 vehicles participated in the first round of the prepaid category on Friday. In the second round held on Sunday (prepaid category), 48 drivers participated in the contest and out of them, 28 returned to the finishing point.

In the stock category’s A class, Rashid Goraya clinched the first position, while Sultan Bahadur and Mansoor captured second and third positions, respectively. Goraya covered 220kms distance in two hours, 42 minutes. In stock category’s C class, Raza Saeed was adjudged winner.

In the women’s category, Ms Tushna Patel also defended her title by bagging the first position, while Ms Mahem Qureshi and Ms Salma Marwat followed her clinching second and third positions, respectively.

Ms Patel covered the distance in one hour, 37 minutes and four seconds (1.37.4), followed by Ms Qureshi (1.45.25) and Ms Marwat (1.52.36).

The rally was witnessed by a large number of people from different walks of life on its last day.

Because of the event, most of the shops in various markets and plazas in Bahawalpur remained closed as their owners and staff went to Derawar Fort to enjoy the festivities related to the main event on its final day.

The prizes were given away at a ceremony presided over by CM’s adviser on tourism Asif Mehmood, CM’s Inspection Team (CMIT) head Dr Raheel Ahmed Siddiqui and Commissioner Asif Iqbal Chaudhry.

On the rally’s concluding evening, the administration organised a cultural night at the venue where noted singers, including Abrarul Haq, Surraya Multanikar and Cholistani folk singers performed.

The Dirt Bike Rally was introduced for the first time as part of the main event . As many as 15 bikers participated in the 15km-long bike rally.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2020