Pakistan Cycling squad has been granted visas by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and it will be leaving for India via Wagha Border today, Saturday.
This was stated by President, Pakistan Cycling Federation, Munawar Baseer at a news conference on Friday. Also present were Tariq Alvi, Vice President, PCF and other officials of the PCF.
Munawar said the 33rd Asian Cycling Championship has already started on Thursday 7 at New Delhi.
“It would be first ever full fledged participation of Pak team in any Asian championship and we will be taking part in all the events including women events of the premier activity,” he said.
Out of 12 member team, seven have been granted visas and visas of three riders are not yet issued.
Those who have been granted visas include, Noor Alam (captain), Niamat Ali, Habib ullah, Sultan Aftab, Waqas Mehmood, Abid Tariq and female rider, Anam Mahmmod.
Visas of cyclists Mohammad Sabir, Sajid Mahmood and Ghulam Abbas and coach Sardar Nazakat are pending.
PCF Chief it was unfortunate that delay in granting visas has deprived female rider Anam to participate in female events and senior cyclists also lost appearance in two main team events.
“The event is not yet over and we will be participating in rest of the events and we hope to fetch encouraging results as our riders are fully prepared for the Asian championship which will end of March 17,” he asserted.
He said PCF’s continuous follow-up with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and urgent reminders sent to Cycling Federation of India (CFI) by games ruling body, international cycling federation the visas were finally issued to Pak team.
A four member delegation comprising President, PCF, Secretary, PCF, Syed Azhar Ali Shah, Lady Vice President, PCF, Dr Fouzia and Vp,PCF, Tariq Alvi will attend the meetings of Asian Cycling Federation to be held during the side lines of the event.
Munawar Baseer Ahmad highly appreciated Parminder Singh, President CFI who was being supportive of Pakistan’s position and stated that the CFI had even approached the Indian Home Minister in this matter.
He said the participation of Pak riders in the Asian championship would go a long way in improving their performance and to inspire them to put in more hard for attaining fine results in similar meets in future as well.
He condemned the move of a bogus cycling federation headed by Idris Haider Khawaja for writing to Indian High commission declaring Pakistan’s team a “ fake team “. “ We will be taking up with matter with Pakistan Sports Board besides we will initiate legal action against them for defaming PCF “he added.