Pakistan bag best-ever rank at Asian Road Cycling Championship

LAHORE: In a remarkable show of skill, impressive performance by Pakistani cyclists has led to the country securing the sixth position — the country's best ever — in the Asian Road Cycling Championship courtesy of six medals.

Pakistani athletes won two gold, silver and bronze medals each in the championship held in Thailand.

Cyclist Ali Ilyas Jawaid won gold in Individual Time Trial (ITT) and managed to secure a silver medal in the Road Race (IRR).

Ilyas's gold came in the Men's Master Open (35-39 age group) after he completed the 21.4km course in 26 minutes, 30.556 seconds, averaging a speed of 48.44km/h to finish one minute and 14 seconds ahead of Thailand’s Narongdat Sangchai, who secured the silver medal.

Meanwhile, Rabia Gharib bagged gold and silver in the IRR and ITT categories, respectively.

Another Pakistani cyclist Zainab Rizwan won two bronze medals in ITT and IRR.

One of Rizwan's bronze medals came in the 40-44 age category where she finished the race in one hour, 15 minutes, and 13 seconds.