LAHORE, Dec 20: The Pakistan women’s team earned a bronze medal while men failed to make any achievement in the Asian cycling championship held in Ludhiana, India last week.

Twelve men and four women from Pakistan competed in different events. The women’s team comprising Raheela Bano, Anila Ayub, Misbah Mushtaq and Irum claimed the medal in the 4000m team pursuit.

Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) secretary Idris Haider Khawaja, told newsmen at a function held on Tuesday to honour the women cyclists. All four players were given Rs 15,000 each.

The secretary said that the performance of women was satisfactory since it was their first participation in any international event. He disclosed that the PCF was in the process of hiring the services of a Canadian coach to prepare best men and women teams for next year’s 10th South Asian Games to be held in Sri Lanka.

He specified that the PCF had set a target of winning a gold medal in the South Asian Games, and hiring a foreign coach for both men and women teams as part of the preparation.

He said that Tour de Pakistan race would be held in November 2006.

He said that invitations had been sent to various European and other countries to participate in the event. He explained that a new cycling velodrome in Lahore would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 47 million.