Dubai: Suhaila Saeed of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) clinched the top honours at the end of the cycle race held as part of the Fourth Shaikha Hind Women’s Sports Tournament.
Held at the Nad Al Sheba cycle track in the Meydan area, Suhaila Saeed was timed at 31.05 minutes on the 16km race route to finish ahead of Cindy Janoras from Dubai Women’s Establishment (31.38 minutes) and Dubai Municipality’s Catherine Mirasole (33.13 minutes).
Nearly 50 women cyclists who participated were required to go twice around the 8km loop that has been built earlier this year at Nad Al Sheba. Suhaila Saeed had a fast start, and that in fact, proved to be decisive in the end for the senior executive in the Training and Development Department of Dewa.
“I was so engrossed in my race that I forgot to check out how the rest of the field was faring. Luckily, I had a healthy lead that I could defend till the end. I really didn’t realise that the second cyclist was so close to me,” Suhaila told Gulf News.
“As an athlete I want to challenge myself all the time. With this in mind I have been pitting myself into competitions that can bring out the best in me. On occasions I have competed in the open category so that I can gauge my progress against some of the top cyclists in the UAE. The ultimate aim is to get stronger for bigger challenges ahead,” she added.
Defending champion Janoras, who came in just 33 seconds later, was disappointed in her race. “But I really cannot complain as I entered the race with very little training. In addition, I did not go through my warm-up schedule properly and that affected my performance in the end,” Janoras said.
The Filipina, who is employed as a lifeguard at the Dubai Ladies Club in Jumeirah, wants to participate in an Ironman competition next year. “I am not the best of sprint racers. It is long distance that I am more comfortable with. My legs are still crying as I would have overtaken her [Suhaila] if the race was held over another loop perhaps,” she added.
Organised by the Women and Sports Committee of the DSC under the patronage of Her Highness Shaikha Hind Bint Maktoum Bint Juma Al Maktoum, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, this year’s tournament has an increased prize fund of Dh600,000 in nine sports disciplines.
The next event will be the start of the team sports starting with basketball, volleyball and handball at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from October 25. The badminton will also be held at DWTC on November 26 before the swimming competition at the Al Wasl Club pool concludes on October 28.
RESULTS
(Cycling 16km race) 1. Suhaila Saeed (Dewa — 31.05 minutes); 2. Cindy Janoras (Dubai Ladies Club — 31.38); 3. Catherine Mirasole (Dubai Municipality — 33.13).
-Ends
