By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Six year-old Indian boy Hadi Hassan won the first race of the “The Festival of My Bicycle” at the Museum of Islamic Art Car parking area yesterday.
He was followed by compatriot Aleemah Nasif, also six, who raised the hand of Hassan after the race.
Organised by the Qatar Cycling Federation, the event aims to engage children into cycling.
Like Aleemah and Hadi, Filipino twin brothers Juan Andres and Juan Viktor Viloria also had the chance to experience the thrill during the race. Their father Jerry, a bike enthusiast, says he wants his two children to be active in sports at their young age.
“I want them to be stronger, healthy and learn discipline through these kinds of activities,” he said. “They really love riding a bicycle.”
The event was marked by a series of races for every category.
Members and officers of the motorcycle group, Soul Riders, attended the event. The group has more than 85 members of different nationalities. Addullah al-Hajjaj, one of its leaders, said they had been attending and supporting national, sports and charity events in Qatar organised by different groups like the QCF.
“We come as one group and this is not the first time that we participated in QCF events,” he said. As partners, they have been official marshals of different races and cycling tours held in the country.