Steadfast Athlete Akber Khan is synonymous with excellence in road cycling in the Kashmir Valley. The national-level road cycling champion coaches young cyclists in the Kashmir Valley.
Akber was born and brought-up in Srinagar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. He has always been passionate about sports, especially cycling. His love for cycling started at a young age when he accompanied his father on his daily commute to work. He was further motivated when his elder brother, who now is a sports teacher at Srinagar’s Burn Hall School, bagged the gold medal in an inter-college race with a local bicycle.
After completing his schooling, Akber pursued a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Sports from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar and a Master's degree in the same field from the same university. He pursued a PhD in Physical Education and Sports from the Shri Venkateshwara University in Uttar Pradesh.
While pursuing his PhD, Akber continued participating in cycling championships and soon became a force to reckon with in the cycling world. He won his first gold medal in the Road National Cycling Championship in 2014 and followed it up with another gold medal in the same championship in 2016. He also won two gold medals in the Inter-University Cycling Championship in 2016. Akber’s achievements in cycling are remarkable, but he is not one to rest on his laurels. He aims to help budding cyclists achieve their full potential and represent the country at the international level.
Akber's dedication to cycling and sports has not gone unnoticed. He won several accolades, including the Best Cyclist Award by the Jammu and Kashmir Cycling Association in 2015 and the Sports Excellence Award by the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council in 2017. Recently, Steadfast took his student, Waheed Ahmad, aboard as a Steadfast Athlete due to his excellent performance at recent government and private races.
Akber says one reason Steadfast is the choice of numerous cyclists is that its founder Aman Puri has himself been a champion cyclist.
“The founder of the organisation Aman Puri is himself a champion cyclist. His passion for cycling is what makes Steadfast Nutrition the first choice of the majority of Indian cyclists. I relate a lot to Mr Aman Puri as we are both driven by our love for the sport. Being associated with the brand as an athlete is a matter of pride for me.”
Akber’s favourite supplements from Steadfast are the carbohydrates for endurance Carborance and the protein supplement Power Protein. Being an endurance athlete, he uses these for his training and racing regimens.
Besides cycling, Akhbar is passionate about football and cricket. He believes sports can be a powerful tool to bring about positive change in society and is promoting cycling in the Kashmir Valley.
Akber is a successful road cyclist, role model, and inspiration to many young athletes in the Kashmir Valley. His passion for sports and his dedication to training the next generation of athletes is admirable. His achievements in the cycling world are a testament to his hard work, determination, and perseverance.
We wish him the best of luck for his future races and training sessions.
