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: Couple held for stealing cash, valuables from elderly people travelling in e-rickshaws
New Delhi (PTI): A couple has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash or valuables from elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws in west Delhi's Moti Nagar area, police said on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Suresh (25) and his wife, the police said, adding that they were apprehended after an investigation into the theft of Rs 1 lakh from a 60-year-old passenger earlier this week.
According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Kirti Nagar, had hired an e-rickshaw from a showroom on Shivaji Marg on May 13.
The man was carrying a small bag containing Rs 1 lakh cash. After reaching his destination, he found that the bag had been torn and the cash was missing, they said.
An e-FIR was registered at Moti Nagar police station on May 14 and an investigation was launched. A team analysed CCTV footage from the route taken by the complainant and identified the e-rickshaw allegedly used in the crime.
"Using technical surveillance and local inputs, the accused couple was traced and apprehended," a senior police officer said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they used to target elderly passengers travelling in e-rickshaws and steal cash and valuables from their bags during transit without raising suspicion.
Police recovered Rs 90,000 of the stolen amount from the possession of the accused along with the e-rickshaw used in the commission of the offence.
"The accused had no previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the couple was involved in other similar theft cases targeting passengers and senior citizens in different parts of the city," the police officer added.
