KARACHI: Pakistani cyclist Ali Ilyas won gold in the men’s Master Open (35-39 age group) at the Asian Road Cycling Championship in Thailand, successfully defending his title in the individual time trial event.
Ilyas completed the 21.4km course in 26 minutes, 30.556 seconds, with an average speed of 48.44km/h. He finished 1 minute and 14 seconds ahead of Thailand’s Narongdat Sangchai, who earned the silver, while Thai competitor Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn took bronze.
This victory marks Ilyas’ successful title defense and further solidifies his position in the masters category.
Other Pakistani cyclists participated in different age groups, with Umayr Sahlan Masud finishing ninth in the 45-49 age category, Rehan Hyder placing fifth in the 55-59 group, and Qazi Atif securing seventh in the 60-64 category.
Pakistani cyclists will also compete in the U23, men’s elite, and women’s masters categories throughout the ongoing championship. On Saturday, female cyclists Zainab Rizwan and Rabia Gareeb will compete in the women’s master event, while Yousaf will race in the men’s U23 event.
Syed Azhar Ali Shah, President of the Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF), expressed pride in Ilyas’ success. “This is a moment of great honor for Pakistan’s cycling community. Ilyas Ali’s exceptional performance at the continental level highlights Pakistan’s growing potential in international cycling. The PCF is committed to supporting our athletes to achieve success on the global stage,” he stated.
