Excelsior Sports Correspondent
LEH, Oct 1: As many as 250 Mountain Bike (MTB) riders participated in the 2nd ‘North Quest Ladakh -Challenge 2018’- the highest accredited MTB cycling race, which concluded successfully, here.
‘North Quest Ladakh – Challenge2018’ was flagged off by Chief Executive Councilor, LAHDC, Leh Dorjay Mutup from Shanti Stupa Road at 7 am in presence of a galaxy dignitaries including Upper Leh Councilor Gelong Lobzang Nyantak.
The cycling race was conducted by Wisdom Evento Sports with support from Corporate Houses under the technical guidance of ‘Cycling Federation of India’ (CFI) and it had Elite, Amateur men, Amateur men and Children’s categories.
In the Elite category, Kiran Kumar Ragu completed race first and became the winner while Devendar Kumar stood on second position and Padam Bahabur won the third position of the category.
Cash prizes of Rs 75,000, 50,000 and 25,000 were given to first, second and third position holders respectively.
In the Amateur men’s category, Thinles Dorjay stood first and Sachin KR Singh second. Both of them got one MTB and a Timex watch each from the organizers. Sonam Chuskit stood first and Rinchen Dolma second in the Amateur women’s category and received Rs 5000 and 3000 along with a watch from Timex.
This was the first Leh trip for Kiran Kumar Ragu from Bangalore, who managed the first position of the Elite category.
“Racing at this altitude of 3500 meter plus was definitely difficult. We had to come a lot earlier about five days before to get acclimatized to the weather and altitude,” Ragu said adding that it had finally been amazing for him.
Director CFI, VN Sigh, who too was actively supporting and guiding the organizers during the event, said that organizing this sport is aimed at promoting cycling in the region and he hoped to improve it in the further.
While informing that the event is being organized to encourage youth to cycle wherever possible so that environment is also taken care of, one of the organizers from the Wisdom Evento Sports, Stany Wangchuk said that during the first event, five children were selected by CFI for professional training and out of which one Lekzes Angmo has already won a gold medal and created history as she has become first girl from the whole of Jammu and Kashmir to become a national champion.
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