Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Directorate of Physical Education and Sports (DPES), University of Kashmir (KU), organised the Annual Inter-Collegiate Men and Women Cycle Races as part of the University’s Annual Sports Calendar, drawing enthusiastic participation from students across more than 20 affiliated colleges along with postgraduate students from KU itself.
The races gave student cyclists a chance to showcase their sporting prowess along Boulevard Road, with the scenic backdrop of Dal Lake adding to the atmosphere of the event. The Men’s Cycle Race was flagged off from Lalit Grand Palace, while the Women’s Cycle Race began at Nishat Garden, with both routes culminating at the University’s Rumi Gate. Director, DPES, KU, Prof. Raies Qadri flagged off the races.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Prof. Qadri congratulated participants for their enthusiastic turnout and underlined the importance of promoting cycling and active lifestyles among young people. He said cycling serves as an important means of promoting physical fitness, mental well-being and a healthy lifestyle, and linked the university’s push in this direction to the Prime Minister’s call for mass cycling as well as the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025, adding that students are being encouraged to make cycling and regular physical activity an integral part of their daily routines.
Prof. Qadri went on to highlight the wider physical and mental health benefits of cycling, urging students to incorporate it and other forms of regular exercise into their everyday lives, framing the message as part of a broader effort to build healthier habits on campus.
A medal ceremony followed at Ground B of the Main Campus, where medals and participation certificates were distributed among the podium finishers by Prof. Qadri. The ceremony also featured performances by students from the University’s Shri Pran Krishan Kaul Institute of Music and Fine Arts, who entertained participants and guests with musical presentations.
In the Men’s race, Tasleem Muhammad of Gandhi College, Srinagar, took gold with a time of 19:47, followed by Hamed Arshid of Islamia College, Srinagar, who claimed silver at 20:00, and Muhammad Tahir Mir of GDC Beerwah, who secured bronze at 26:48. In the Women’s race, Muskaan Naseer of Women’s College Zakura won gold clocking 18:20, Adfara Alam of GDC Pampore took silver at 18:36, and Pakeeza Ashraf of GDC Ganderbal claimed bronze at 19:33.
The event reflects the University of Kashmir’s continued emphasis on sport as part of student life, with inter-collegiate competitions of this kind offering a platform for young athletes from across the Valley’s colleges to compete, build camaraderie and stay engaged in physical activity beyond the classroom.
