Dubai: A top official from the UAE Cycling Federation (UAECF) is confident of staging the best continental competition when the 30th Asian Cycling Championships and the 17th Asian Junior Cycling Championships get under way in Sharjah later this week.
"To start of, we have the highest number of countries participating this year," Shaikh Faisal Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, President, UAECF told media.
Of the 40 countries registered with the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), a record 31 have confirmed their participation for the 30th Asian Cycling Championships and the 17th Asian Junior Cycling Championships that will get under way with the road races along the Al Khan Corniche on April 8. The competition will close with the track races at the newly-built Zayed Velodrome, Sharjah.
Prestigious event
"For us in the UAE this is a historic event as this is the first time that we are hosting such a prestigious competition. We are 80 per cent prepared for this championships and we will ensure that everything is in order in the next couple of days," Shaikh Faisal promised.
This week's championships to be held separately for men, women and juniors, will see nearly 600 top cyclists from across Asia participate for the 162 medals on offer during the week. "This is the first time for us and we are taking this event as a challenge to ourselves," he said.
"We are trying to do our best with the organisation of a world-class event, but time has been too short for us. Despite all this we are prepared," Shaikh Faisal said.
The UAECF has planned an impressive opening ceremony at the new Zayed Velodrome situated opposite the Sharjah International Airport between 5 and 6 pm on April 8. "And we are hoping to have our patron Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attend the opening ceremony next Thursday," Shaikh Faisal stated.
