Umer Nabi retains 11th JK Bank Tour-de-Kashmir title

Excelsior Sports Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 31: Proving his supremacy, Umer Nabi of Shalimar Cycling Club retained the 11th J&K Bank Tour-de-Kashmir Cycle Race title held from Srinagar to Gulmarg, today.
In the event, he trounced top 28 riders of the State who have all represented State at various National level events. The event was organized by J&K Sports Development Association (JKSDA) and sponsored by J&K Bank, Pine Palace Resort Gulmarg and Gulmarg Development Authority.
Earlier event was flagged off from Corporate Office JK Bank by Executive President JK Bank Taffazul Hussain and President HRD JK Bank, Abdul Rouf Bhat in presence of President Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, Rouf Tramboo, Chief Editor, J&K Bank Sajad Bazaz, Director Ridhi Sidhi (Adarsh Group) Zahoor Malik, Senior Commander, Captain Kapil Raina Air India, Director Physical Education and Sports, Islamia College Hawal, Altaf-ur-Rehman, Joint Secretary J&K Cycling Association Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat and founder of the event and organising secretary JKSDA Reyaz Wani.
The event was held in two stages. First from Srinagar to Tangmarg and then from Tangmarg to Gulmarg. In first stage it was neck to neck battle as all the riders reached culminating point with only 10 minutes separating them.
At Tangmarg the second stage was flagged off jointly by CEO Gulmarg Development Authority Mahmood Ahmad Shah and skier turned politician Muhammad Abass Wani.
Muhammad Akbar Khan of Amar Singh College finished second while third place was bagged by Mansoor Ahmad of Chinar Cycling Club riding on Country made local cycle. Fourth place was bagged by Amir Ahmad of Chinar Club again riding on country made cycle. Ghulam Rasool Kawa finished fifth while as Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh finished sixth. Umaid Arshad of Burnhall finished seventh while as Umer Bashir of SSC finished eight. Muhammad Adil Teli finished ninth while as Amir Assad finished tenth.
At the prize distribution ceremony CEO Gulmarg Development Authority Mahmood Ahmad Shah was the chief guest while as Director Magpie Hydel Construction Operation Industries Private Limited and Olympian, Mir Mudasir, Bashir Malik, Mir Nazir were guest of honours. Later they distributed prizes among the winners.