Pakistan's 10th National Women Cycling Championship started on Thursday in the country's eastern city of Lahore, said an official with the Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF).

Secretary of PCF Azhar Ali Shah said that the four-day event organized by WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) started at the Gaddafi Stadium Velodrome in Lahore with the participation of teams from all four provinces, northwestern tribal areas along with the contingents of Wapda, Railway, Sui Southern Gas and Pakistan Army.

Eight-time champion of the event Wapda team, that always kept best women cyclist of the country, is the defending champion of the event.

Nine different competitions will be held in the championship and the longest distance of the road team event will be 50 kilometers.

Maximum six women cyclists from each team are allowed to feature in the competitions.

According to the officials, the cycling is one of the most neglected games in the country, especially in the case of women.

The outdoor cemented velodrome in the premises of International Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore is the lone such facility in Pakistan that is far behind the international standards.

It is very tough for the girls to reach the stadium by riding their own bikes in society like Pakistan. The sport is still considered for the girls from elite families, who move around in their own vehicles with their bikes.

According to a PCF official, the cycling federation got only 7,000 U.S. dollars for current year with the promises of 35,000 dollars for next year that is still too low for the sport. Enditem

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