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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Delhi Police apprehends 966 people in southeast Delhi ahead of New Year under Operation Aaghat 3.0
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has apprehended 966 people and seized arms, drugs, illegal liquor and vehicles during a large-scale preventive crackdown in southeast Delhi ahead of New Year celebrations, an official said on Saturday.
The operation, namely Operation Aaghat 3.0, was launched to curb organised crime, street offences and the activities of habitual criminals in view of heightened public movement during year-end festivities, they said.
Of the total, 331 accused were arrested under the Delhi Excise Act, NDPS Act and the Public Gambling Act, while 504 people were apprehended under various preventive provisions, the police said.
As part of targeted action, police apprehended 116 listed bad characters, arrested five auto-lifters and four proclaimed offenders, officials added.
During the operation, police recovered 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges and 27 knives under the Arms Act. They also seized 12,258 quarters of illicit liquor, 6.01 kg of ganja and Rs 2.36 lakh from gamblers.
A total of 310 mobile phones, six two-wheelers and one four-wheeler were also recovered, the police said.
In addition, action was taken against 1,306 persons under the Delhi Police Act, while 231 two-wheelers were seized for violations, the officials said.
The crackdown was carried out with over 600 police personnel deployed across the district.
The police said the operation was aimed at preventing any untoward incident during New Year celebrations, particularly in residential areas and jhuggi clusters, and to deter organised crime networks and habitual offenders.
Officials said stringent legal provisions, including sections 111 and 112 of the BNS, would be invoked in suitable cases, and proposals for externment of repeat offenders were also being initiated.
The police added that intensified patrolling, vehicle checking and night surveillance had led to a reduction in PCR calls related to street crime in the district over the past month.
