Kanwar Gill does city proud, qualifies for R 10K medal
While his age mates are busy working, the professionally qualified lawyer from Patiala has brought pride to his city and state as he qualified for the R (Randonneurs) 10,000 cycling event. Kanwar Gill, who started cycling at the age of 40, is eying more international medals in cycling.
Seasoned cyclist Kanwar Gill, brought glory to Punjab and his hometown of Patiala after he successfully qualified and won the R (Randonneurs) 10,000 medal. This medal was started in Paris in 1860 and Gill has become such a cyclist who, due to his hard work, has brought this medal to Punjab for the first time.
A practicing advocate in the Patiala district courts, Gill said Paris Brest Paris (PBP), which is a 1240 km ride, is called the ‘Mini Olympics of cycling’. “It is the oldest cycling event in the world which started in Paris in 1860. After completing this ride, any player who cycles twice 200, twice 300, twice 400, twice 600, twice 1,000, twice 1,200 km, one 600 with an elevation of more than 8,000 and cycles 360 or more km in 24 hours in a flèche within 48 months gets a Rs-10,000 medal”.
Super Randonneur (SR) title is awarded to cyclists who complete a series of brevets within a calendar year. Gill took up cycling a few years ago and has previously won the SR title 37 times. To achieve an SR title, one has to ride 200, 300, 400 and 600 km in each of these categories, within a year and Kanwar Gill attained this SR title 37 times, which is second highest in the country.
“I get up at 4 am every day and it has been my routine for the past four years. I do not take any breaks in this and my passion is to ensure laurels from my home state and district. My wife Honey Gill has always supported me in this and that is why I have been able to concentrate on my cycling, as she takes care of the kids,” says Gill. “Once I am not cycling, I am in the courts and after a busy day, in the evening, I spend time working out,” he says.
Apart from this, Gill has also done rides like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Kathmandu, Manali-Leh. “My next goal is an International SR and Kashmir to Kanyakumari ride,” says the cyclist, who completed his education from the Punjab Public School, Nabha.
