Keeping up with the tradition of promoting sports and encouraging sportspersons, Green Valley Educational Institute (GVEI) Elahi Bagh felicitated 110-kilomtre ultra-marathon runner Hamid Aziz and International cyclist of Kashmir Mohammad Akber Khan at its school campus here on Wednesday.
The Institute organized the felicitation ceremony at its campus on Wednesday in which sports promoter Arif Laigroo, Chairman GVEI Mohammad Yousuf and Principal Prof Razia Sultana were the guests. On the occasion speakers highlighted the various achievements of both Hamid and Akber.
Hamid had recently achieved the milestone of running nonstop 110-kilomtre distance from Srinagar to Baltal while as Akber is the only International cyclists of Kashmir who is considered cycling icon of J&K.
Both Hamid and Akber were awarded with a customized memento and cash reward of Rs, 10,000.
Speaking on the occasion Arif Laigroo said that we should see both these top sports stars of the J&K as role models.
“They are both role models and youth icons for our young generation. We should take cue for them and live healthy life style and also go on to achieve something big at national and international level. To run 110-kilometer is not easy and he has done this on one go. Hamid has got the potential to achieve more millstones and I sure he will break his next target of 180-kilomtre. Akber on the other hand is our cycling icon and seeing him excel we are getting and more results at National level”.
“GVEI is known for the sports promotions and its students and now and then shine in various events. I am delighted to see that they are also encouraging our sports stars which will give our youth motivation to achieve their goals on similar lines,” he said.
Hamid on the occasion thanked GVEI for the encouragement said that it is this type of encouragement that motivates him achieve feats like this.
“I set the target of 110 kilometer and achieved this and after that I was hailed by one and all. Now I have set my next target of 180-kilomtre and with such encouragement and help I am sure I will do that as well,” he said.
Akber who plays for Noora Hospital on the occasion asked the students of Institute to take up sports as their way of healthy lifestyle.
“I have been in National camp for more than year and what I learnt there is helping me to achieve better results for me and my fellow riders in my area. One should not mere take sports as career or goal of winning medals but take it as medium of healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“We are getting now results at National level. Cycling sport is developing in our State and only in my area we have now four National level medal winners. Recently Bilal won numerous medals in the national arena and that is what my aim is. I want to see the day when J&K will dominate cycling arena of Country,” he added.
Later Chairman GVEI Mohammad Yousuf and Principal Prof Razia Sultana presented the prizes to Hamid, Akber and guest Arif Laigroo.
Chairman GVEI said that his institute is always ready to encourage players and help in the promotion of the sports in the State.
