Zurich: Ahmed Zachariah Faizal shines in Ironman 70.3 race with remarkable finish
Ahmed Zachariah Faizal, (Zach) a UAE-based Indian athlete, displayed an exceptional performance in the recent Ironman 70.3 triathlon race held in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland. The grueling event, organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), encompasses a challenging course comprising a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run, totaling a distance of 70.3 miles (113.0 km).
Preparation and dedication were the keys to Zach's success, as he meticulously trained for over six months to participate in this prestigious event. His commitment and perseverance paid off, as he completed the race with an impressive finish time of 6 hours and 22 minutes. The time needed by an athlete to complete a 70.3 distance event varies from race to race and can be influenced by external factors such as the terrain and the total elevation gained and lost on the course, weather conditions, and course conditions. Finish times range from sub-four-hour completion times by elite-level athletes to the imposed race cut-off, which is commonly 8 hours and 30 minutes after the start time.
Ahmed Zachariah Faizal is the son of Faizal Kottikollon and Shabana Faizal, a well-known Indian entrepreneur couple based in the UAE. The couple is not only known for their business endeavors but also for their philanthropic contributions.
Shabana hails from Mangaluru in the Karnataka state of India. She is the only daughter of prominent businessman and socio-religious leader Late B Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen who founded the prestigious BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay near Mangaluru.
Zach, an alumnus of the University of Surrey in London, UK, where he completed his Mechanical Engineering degree, has established PEEC Mobility. PEEC Mobility is a company that takes a creative approach to electric mobility, focusing on repurposing retired vehicles as an alternative to manufacturing new electric vehicles (EVs). Their mission is to accelerate the green transition by designing and manufacturing the petrol-to-electric transition, with a particular emphasis on repurposing large-scale fleets worldwide to achieve financial viability and make a substantial positive impact on the environment.
The Ironman 70.3 race in Rapperswil-Jona witnessed the participation of approximately 3,000 athletes from various countries worldwide. Among them, Ahmed Zachariah Faizal stood out as one of the three Indian participants. Notably, a significant proportion of the athletes were in their 40s and above, with 20% of the participants being over 60 years old.
Ahmed with his father Faizal Kottikollon
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
