His Excellency Osama Al Shafar, President of the Asian Cycling Confederation and UAE Cycling Federation, has hailed the impact of the NAS Cycling Challenge in the growth of the sport in the country
DUBAI (Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2019 ) His Excellency Osama Al Shafar, President of the Asian Cycling Confederation and UAE Cycling Federation, has hailed the impact of the NAS Cycling Challenge in the growth of the sport in the country.
A part of the Nad al Sheba Sports Tournament since the first year, the two-night 7th NAS Cycling Challenge came to a close on Saturday night with more than 400 participants competing in three different categories - UAE National Women, Open Category Women and UAE National Men – over a distance of 77 kilometres.
More than 650 participants had taken part in seven categories on the opening night of the NAS Cycling Challenge, and Al Shafar said those impressive numbers are a testimony to the growth of cycling in the country. “When I took over the reins of the UAE Cycling Federation, it was also the first year of the NAS Cycling Challenge, and the number of registered cyclists back then was 800. Today, the number of registered cyclists has reached 4,000.
“If you look at the numbers at the NAS Cycling Challenge, we had 200 cyclists take part in the first year and now in this seventh edition, we have seen more than 1,050 participants. So, there seems to be a direct relation between the growth of the NAS Cycling Challenge and the growth in the number of registered cyclists in the country. “The NAS Cycling Challenge has played a big part in the growth of the sport in the country, attracting both Emiratis and expatriates, men and women, to the sport and we thank His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, for his guidance and generous support to sport in general and cycling in particular. “The UAE Cycling Federation has been very lucky to have cycling included in the NAS Sports Tournament from the first edition, and being a part of this hugely popular community initiative has undoubtedly had an impact on the popularity of cycling among both citizens and residents.” Dubai Police stole the limelight on the second night of the NAS Cycling Challenge with two winners: Samah Khaled in the Open Women’s Category and Mansoor Al Blooshi in the UAE National men’s category. A Jordanian, Khaled clocked two hours, 7 minutes and 15.791 seconds to finish ahead of Denmark’s Helle Von Echt (02:07:16.519) and Emirati Safia Al Sayegh (02:07:16.612). Mansoor Al Blooshi, meanwhile, clocked 1:49:09.430 on his way to the gold, while Harib Al Blooshi was second in 1:49:09.827, followed by Ahmed Al Ali 1:49:12.889.
DHL and MGM in semis
Led by a brilliant unbeaten 70 from Mohammed Sagheer and a blazing 16-ball 49 (2x4s, 6x6s) from Tharanga Jayasinghe, DHL defeated Dubai Exiles RFC by 57 runs to book their place in the semi-finals of the NAS Cricket T10 Championship, which is being held at the Wombats Cricket Ground in Jebel Ali. In the other quarterfinal match of Saturday night, Naveed Anjum and Mohammed Hassan both chipped in with half centuries as MGM CC Sharjah defeated DP World by 24 runs. DHL will now meet the winners of the match between Noor Bank and Salman Cool Boys, while MGM await the winners of the quarterfinal between Hadaf Sporting RAK and Titans Cricket Club. Both semis will take place on Tuesday night. Coming in to bat in the third over, at the fall of the second wicket with 48 already on the board, Sagheer and Jayasinghe scored at a frantic pace, adding 82 runs for the fourth wicket in a mere 4.2 before Jayasinghe became the third of Ejaz Ali’s four victims. Sagheer was batting on 28 off 12 balls at the time and, on Jayasinghe’s dismissal, he switched gears, scoring 35 runs from the next 8 balls he faced to finish on a 23-ball 70 (4x4s, 7x6s), helping DHL post a mammoth 190 for 6. Faced with a daunting target, Dubai Exiles made a spirited bid, but could score no more than 133 for 2, with Clint Berkenshaw smashing a 28-ball 64 (3x4s, 6x6s) and Harsh Udeshi scoring an unbeaten 34 off 15 balls (3x6s), before Lee Clough’s late fireworks when he hit four sixes and a four off the six balls he faced to return unbeaten on 29.
NAS Wheelchair Basketball
Dubai Municipality, the Group A toppers, will meet Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services in the semi-finals of the NAS Wheelchair Basketball Championship, while Dubai Public Prosecution, who finished at the top of Group B, will take on Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in the other semis. In the final round of preliminary round matches, Dubai Municipality defeated Al Ansari Exchange 78-10 to finish with four wins from four matches, while Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) defeated Dnata 20-0 in Group A. In Group B, Dubai Public Prosecution defeated Dubai Health Authority 74-12 and Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services beat Al Bustan 37-14.
RESULTS
NAS CYCLING CHALLENGE
UAE National Women (77km): 1-Farah Al Marri 02:26:25.861; 2-Mehnaz Kamali 02:26:29.596; 3-Alia Al Muhairi 02:26:30.361; 4-Maryam Al Awadhi 02:26:31.724; 5-Alyaa Al Otaiba 02:35:32.487.
Open Category Women (77km): 1-Samah Khaled 02:07:15.791; 2-Helle Von Echt 02:07:16.519; 3-Safia Al Sayegh 02:07:16.612; 4-Noura Al Ameeri 02:07:18.88; 5-Natasha Leask 02:07:18.414.
UAE National Men (77km): 1-Mansoor Al Blooshi 01:49:09.430; 2-Harib Al Blooshi 01:49:09.827; 3-Ahmed Al Ali 01:49:12.889; 4-Hamad Al Sabri 01:49:38.925; 5-Adel Al Blooshi 01:50:31.261.
NAS CRICKET
DHL 190 for 6 (S Khalil 26, M Sagheer n.o. 70, T Jayasinghe 49; EA Ali 4-15) vs Dubai Exiles RFC 133 for 2 (C Berkenshaw 64, H Udeshi not out 34, L Clough not out 29). DHL win by 57 runs.
MGM Cricket Club Sharjah 140 for 5 (N Anjum 53, M Hassan 52; M Farhan 2-24) vs DP World 116 for 4 (S Gul not out 42, MR Khan 22). MGM win by 24 runs.
NAS WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
GROUP A: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) beat Dnata 20-0; Dubai Municipality beat Al Ansari Exchange 78-10.
GROUP B: Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services beat Al Bustan 37-14; Dubai Public Prosecution beat Dubai Health Authority 74-12.
