In a new sporting achievement added to Saudi Arabia's sporting record, two members of the Saudi national cycling team won two medals, a silver and a bronze, in the Masters category at the 2024 Asian Road Cycling Championships, hosted by the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. This victory confirms the remarkable development of cycling in the Kingdom and reflects the significant support the sports sector enjoys in general.
Saudi cyclist Faisal Al-Shayaa shone, securing second place and the silver medal in the Masters men's 20-kilometer individual time trial, completing the distance in 27 minutes and 19 seconds. In the same race, his teammate Ahmed Al-Omrani claimed third place and the bronze medal, recording a time of 28 minutes and 17 seconds, in a race that witnessed fierce competition among Asia's elite cyclists.
Background and context of the tournament
The Asian Road Cycling Championships are among the continent's premier sporting events, bringing together the best cyclists from across Asia to compete for continental titles. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's hosting of this championship, specifically in the Qassim region from February 5th to 13th, represents a significant step in its strategy to enhance its position as a global sporting destination, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. Delegations from 30 Asian countries are participating in the championships, with a total of over 600 male and female cyclists, adding considerable momentum to the competitions and fostering the exchange of expertise among athletes.
The importance and impact of achievement
Domestically, this achievement serves as a strong incentive for the Saudi Cycling Federation to continue its development plans and inspires young people and athletes to take up the sport. Regionally, winning medals in a continental championship enhances Saudi Arabia's standing on the Asian cycling map and demonstrates the ability of its athletes to compete at the highest levels. Internationally, such successes contribute to highlighting the Kingdom's sporting development and its capacity to organize and host major sporting events with high efficiency.
The winners were crowned by the President of the Saudi Cycling Federation, Mr. Abdullah Al-Shahrani, and the President of the Saudi Masters Sports Committee, Mr. Mohammed Bu Ali. Al-Shahrani praised the outstanding performance of the Saudi cyclists, emphasizing that this achievement is the fruit of continuous efforts and the unlimited support from the wise leadership and the Ministry of Sports, which positively impacts the development and spread of cycling throughout the Kingdom.
