DOHA: Qatar are hoping to excel as they gear up for the Asian Cycling Championship starting later this week.
Qatar will be represented by seven riders in elite and junior categories continental event scheduled to be held from May 28 to June 1 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.
Riders from as many as 30 countries are going to take part in the championship, Magid Al Naimi, Secretary-General, Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), said yesterday.
QCF’s team will participate in two categories, elite and juniors, Al Naimi informed.
A batch of five riders, Ahmed Al-Bourdainy, Abdul Rahman Salim, Abdullah Afif, Khalil Abduljanan and Hamad Afif will represent Qatar’s elite team whereas 2 riders, Izzedine Al Alaa and Faris Abdulmalek are taking part in juniors team.
Qatar coach Branko Philip and Aziz Marzouq are also part of the squad.
Nasser Al Kaabi, Assistant Secretary-General, QCF will head the Qatar delegation. “We are confident of achieving good results,” coach Branko said.
“We have been preparing for the forthcoming championship for some time now,” he added. “Our riders are confident of hitting their straps and putting up good fight,” Branko said.
“All our future planning and events are centered around our participation in the World Cycling Championship 2016, scheduled to be held in Qatar,” he said. The squad left for Kazakhstan yesterday.THE PENINSULA
