Asif wins Sahiwal to Lahore stage of Tour-de-Pakistan
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

LAHORE: Little known rider from Pakistan Railways Muhammad Asif left Iranian Mohammadreza Karimdad behind with a few seconds difference to win the Sahiwal to Lahore stage of the Tour-de-Pakistan race here on Saturday.

With a rousing display of forceful sprint, Asif crossed the finish line of the 8th stage of the premier event in a close finish, returning a timing of 4 hrs 59 min, 28 seconds.

Karimdad made desperate efforts utilizing all of his energy for beating Asif in the last few yards ahead of the line but failed. He clocked 4 hrs, 59 min, 34 sec.

“It was an amazing finish, i knew he was very close to me, rather too close but i did not let this fear overcome me and showed power sprint to cross the line “, said a jubilant Asif while talking to APP at Kalma Chowk near Garden Town.

Asif said he had a strong belief that he can win and this conviction inspired him to give his best.

51 riders set off on a 165 kilometres long stage and they were just 40 kilometres away from Lahore when Asif and Karimdad , both the top contenders, left the other riders behind making a group of two cyclists finishing the race in the same pattern.

Behind Asif and Karimdad was Javed Mussavi also from Iran taking the third place with Thomas of Germany securing 4th place.Wapda’s Dilsher Ali and Naveed claimed the 5th and 6th places.

The riders were received by Nazim Nishtar Town, Rafiq Hasrat and they were given warm welcome by the officials of the Pakistan Cycling Federation including its secretary, Idris Haider Khawaja and senior vice president Munawar B Ahmad and a large number of fans.

A total of 17 foreign riders from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Germany and Iran are taking part in the grand event which offers a total cash prizes of Rs one million.

After a night stay at Lahore the riders will resume their journey for the 9th stage of Lahore-Gujrat race on March 21.

The event will be finished at Peshawar on March 23.●