24-year-old Kashmiri cyclist Waheed Ahmad Ganie has been selected to represent J&K in the forthcoming National Games 2022 scheduled to be held in Gujarat from September 27 onwards.
Waheed is the lone cyclist from J&K to represent UT at the national arena. He will participate in Individual Time Trial (ITT) 40 KMS and Mass Start (MS) 150 KMS events.
As per the official document of the Cycling Federation of India, 123 cyclists including men, and women (elite) riders across India have been selected according to their performance in the selection trails held at Haryana under the supervision of the federation.
Hailing from the Kanihama Magam area in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Ganie is currently studying Bachelor of Physical Education and Sports in Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar Punjab. Waheed has been in professional cycling for the past 9 years and is named among the top cyclists of India. He also ranks the number 1 cyclist in J&K.
“Waheed is a national silver medalist and five times gold medalist in J&K and has bagged multiple gold medals at district level competitions,” said Waheed’s brother Tariq.
“I am very excited to represent J&K at the national arena and go through hard training sessions to bag a medal for UT and make my people proud,” Waheed told Rising Kashmir.
He said that he developed an inclination toward the sport after watching the cyclists passing near his native village.
He added that nobody has sponsored him so far and is expecting somebody to come forward for sponsorship.
“I have been facing a lot of hardships owing to lack of sponsorship. If provided, I can reach the international level. In fact, lack of finance has halted me from representing India at international platforms as the competition requires a high standard bike which I could not effort,” he said.
