Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, fell during the event and died of his injuries despite an attempt to take him to the hospital for treatment, officials said.

“He unfortunately passed away,” International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman Craig Spence told AFP.

Golbarnezhad’s accident occurred during the more than two-hour C4-5 road race for athletes with varying disabilities but still able to bicycle.

He was in the first section of a mountainous descent when he fell.

“The athlete received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest,” the IPC said in a statement.

“The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival.”

President Hassan Rouhani in a tweet in Farsi said “the demise of our dear cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad immersed us all in deep sorrow. Rest in peace.”

Paralympic officials said Golbarnezhad’s family in Iran had been informed and the Iranian team was also told the news during a meeting at the Athletes’ Village.

The cyclist, who wore a prosthesis on his left leg, took up the sport in 2002 and competed at the London 2012 Paralympics.

“This is truly heart-breaking news,” IPC president Philip Craven said. “The Paralympic Family is united in grief at this horrendous tragedy, which casts a shadow over what have been great Paralympic Games here in Rio.”

Brazil’s top official for the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, Carlos Nuzman, called it “very sad news for sport and for the Paralympic movement. Our hearts and prayers are with Bahman’s family, his teammates and all the people of Iran.”

The Iranian flag was lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village, while the Paralympic flag was to be at half-mast during Sunday’s sitting volleyball gold-medal match between Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina.A minute of silence will be held during Sunday’s closing ceremony.

“This is a very difficult situation. We hope we can repatriate his body to his family soon,” state television website IRIB quoted the head of Iran’s Paralympic committee, Masoud Ashrafi, as saying.

Golbarnezhad is survived by a wife and a son, he added.The British Paralympic team tweeted: “We are devastated by the news of Bahman Golbarnezhad’s passing. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues from NPC Iran.

Fernando Alonso will not make a decision on his future with McLaren Honda until he has tested a 2017 car to see if he can rekindle his enthusiasm for Formula One. “I think in the last couple of years, in this turbo era, the cars are different to drive. I don’t say better or worse. Everyone can have an opinion,” said Alonso, 35. “But I was lucky to drive the 2004-2005 car, and even in 2009, they were more extreme F1 cars. When I see a GP2 car is three seconds slower than FP1, I feel a bit sad.”

Aaron with experienced MotorGP rider Yukio Kagayama

This is the first time a Sri Lankan rider has got a break in an international circuit Suzuki, the Japanese marque introduced its own Asian series that runs in conjunction with the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) and Aaron will be part of the Suzuki team running for the Asian Championship.

Aaron went to Suzuka, Japan to take part in the Asian Road Race and rode his Suzuki 125cc bike in the third round of the five-round race. He is currently placed in the first ten.

Aaron who is the baby of the bunch was one of the first Asian riders to get an opportunity to pose on Aleix Espargaro’s Moto GP bike for a press release.

Espargaro and Maverick Vinales took Suzuki to another level and after a shaky start to the season Vinales and Aleix have finished in the top six at the last three rounds and sits at No. 5 and 7 on the world championship standings.

Young Aaron said he was excited to sit behind Aleix’s bike and touch the controls.

Aaron riding his Suzuki 125cc in the Asian Road Race at Suzuka.

“I like to say a big thank you to Suzuki for the motivation and I am happy to be part of Suzuki’s structured program,” said Aaron.

The proud Dad Shane said, “Suzuki’s efforts to discover and groom riders from the Asian region and Suzuki’s return to the MotoGP in 2015 have been really great. The collaboration with the Asia Road Racing Championship has motivated many riders from all parts of Asia and I have no doubt that we would see an Asian in MotoGP soon”.

Yukio Kagayama, who has abundant experience in MotoGP, World Superbike, World Endurance, and the Japanese Championship said he was happy about the progress Aaron has made so far.

“Champions are not made overnight. There is a long progression for young riders before they are ready to take on the challenges of the world stage,” said Kagayama.

“There is no short cut to success and the young riders trained from the Suzuki Asian Challenge must first be exposed to even more competitive racing in the higher classes.”

The duo aged 12 and 13 years stunned seasoned campaigners of the Asian fraternity in winning this event.

Jaden Gunawardena astride his Honda HPM 250cc at the Kuala Lumpur circuit

The championship was conducted as an open age category event and included three stages worked off in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. The Sri Lankan pair earned an aggregate of 10 points from the three stages to crown themselves as champions and receive their award the Federation of International Motorcycling (FIM) Asia General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

Jaden and Aaron fearlessly challenged matured and experienced riders from countries such as Japan, Thailand, India, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia and Nepal. They beat many riders on their home soil and placed Sri Lanka high on the Asia racing map.

The two brothers came into the limelight in 2011 when they first participated at the ACRR as eight and nine-year lads. The determined riders came through the national selection process beating national level and three Forces riders over twice their age to become the best riders of the 150cc and 250cc events.

Jaden and Aaron hail from a racing family and are siblings of retired national motorcycling champion Shane Gunawardena. Shane has stamped his class in motor racing and won the Best Rider award at the inaugural Foxhill Supercross. He is the manager, coach and consultant to this champion duo.

Avindra Mirando, the President of the Federation of Motorcycle Sports in Sri Lanka said the Association is greatly honoured to receive this award as this is the first time Sri Lanka has carved their name in the 102-year-old history of the FIM.

He wished the young champions and expects them to bring further glory to the country in the future.

This was his fourth consecutive win at the SLKC Kart Fight 2015, with a total of 80 points in his possession.

During the fourth round of the Kart Fight, he was able to qualify fist on the grid being the quickest among his close rivals. A close and intense battle was witnessed for almost five laps with Iason Carron who qualified second on the grid, hanging on right behind Kevin’s tail. Kevin Perera defending his line

consistently, made sure that he books the top slot of the podium as the winner of the fourth round of the SLKC Kart Fight 2015.

In the Group SM Super Motard category Team Honda’s Imal Manchanayake comfortably led the points total with 54 points going in to the GajabaSupercross round. A plucky ride into 5th place in Race 1 after a fall while lying 2nd and nipping at the leader’s rear wheel pranged his CRF250R and bruised the rider, Manchanayake nevertheless finished a strong 4th in race 2 on a bike still suffering from the effects of race 1.

Shanuka Sandaruwan’s firm 2nd places at Gajaba gave him double podium presence, winning him and Stafford Team Honda a further 16 valuable points in the Group M Street Trail category of the 2015 SLADA Motocross Championship series.

Gajaba marked thereturn to competition of veteran motocross racer and multi-season champion Gayan Sandaruwan after a long layoff following injury late 2014. In his Group MX Motocross Racing 250cc class Gayan felt his way into the fray finishing just off the podium for a remarkable 5th place.

The Gajaba Supercross at the Regimental Centre in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura, was organized by the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army in collaboration with SLADA (Sri Lanka Autosports Drivers Association).

Fast forward a fortnight, and the September 13,Walawa Supercross of the SLEME (Sri Lanka Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army), in association with the Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club (SLMCC). Team Honda was in action again with Shanuka Sandaruwan and Imal Manchanayake.

In race 1 of the Group M Street Trail 250cc class Shanuka catapulted his Honda CRF250X into the lead off the first jump. Shanuka : “I made a good jump at jump 1 and was too fast going into the turn and had to slow down a lot …”. Shanuka took 2nd place in that event and a short while later, in race 2, Shanuka put the wheel of his Honda CRF250X alongside of the race leader several times finishing the day with yet another 2nd podium step.

In Group SM Super Motard Open, racing against bikes of almost double the capacity of his, Manchanayake fiercely worked his way past the bigger bikes and was hotly closing in on the leading rider on a 450cc machine at flag fall.

Earlier in the day, in the same category, this time for 250cc machinery, Manchanayake recovered from an early 3rd place, picked off the 2nd placed competitor and took the inside line through to the lead mid-way on the final lap of the 6 lap race and waltzed away, Manchanayake piloting his CRF250R to yet another brilliant 1st place finish.

Two motocross race days, five firm 2nd place finishes, and Stafford Team Honda and the CRF250 motocross machinery captureyet another dominant top step of the podium

The World Final, in which Malagamuwa competes for the second time in his career, will be held with the participation of over 100 top drivers.
The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo World Final will be its third edition, and also the final round of the three European, North American and Asian series. It will be Malagamuwa’s second after his first attempt failed in Malaysia last year.
After the first two World Finals held in Italy in Vallelunga in 2013, and last year in Sepang, Malaysia, the end of year finale of all three continental series, at one international venue, will be in America for the first time.

The Sebring circuit, which has 17 turns on a 3.74-mile circuit, is America’s oldest road racing track, with more than six decades of history.
At the four-day event there will be four titles up for grabs besides the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo World Final.
Other races to be held are PRO, PRO-AM, AM and Gallardo AM, where on their home track, the locals are considered as serious contenders.

Over the last seven months, drivers and teams have battled for championships in each Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series. Each series has two races left in their regular seasons before the World Final.
Malagamuwa is the only driver in the world in this series to include his country’s flag on the driver’s kit.
Speaking at the occasion, Malagamuwa said: “I must mention my main sponsor is Humble Sri Lankan in the right corner of my car. One of Malaysian friends’ asked me ‘what is the nature of the company you mention.’ I said that was credit for the people of my country. Their only humble wish is my main sponsor” said the three times international title holder.

These slots can earn him more money as sponsorships, but Malagamuwa said he is privileged to promote his motherland to the world, rather than look for extra money. Orient Finance PLC came forward to sponsor Dilango Racing for this World Championship.
Harin Fernando, Minister of Telecommunication & Digital Infrastructure, and Orient Finance PLC Chief Executive Officer Suresh Amarasekara and leading artistes participated at the occasion to wish Malagamuwa.

Niluka Shyamali of Kalutara District won the Women’s Elite race while Ayesha Madushani (Ratnapura) finished second. Madushani Ranasinghe (Anuradhapura) came in third. The Under-23 Men’s race saw Nidush Nirantha of Kurunegala reaching the finish line first, followed by Ashen Tharuka (Gampaha) who finished second.

His teammate Charith Fernando secured the third place. Pasindu Lakshan (Kalutara) won the Men’s Junior event while Madumali Fernando of Kurunegala won the women’s junior race.

The Masters (40-55 years) race was won by W S Jeewananda of Kalutara and G Thomas Perera won the over 55 race.

The men’s elite riders’ race was affected by rain in the last lap.

However the competitors did not give up and cycled amidst heavy rain and Naveen Ruchira sprinted ahead of the others at the last moment to become the winner.

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and minister Duminda Dissanayake flaged off the men’s elite race. Earlier on the same day, the Ministers participated in the “Cycling for all” event which was organized by the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka to foster the mission of its international governing body UCI.

North Western Province Chief Minister Peshala Jayaratne, Minister for Rural Development P. Harrison, North Western Province Sports also joined the ride which was worked off on a 14.67 km long circuit.

EVENT RESULTS:

Men’s Elite:

1: Naveen Ruchira (Gampaha)

2:Jeewan Jayasinghe

(Gampaha)

3: B Wajira Pushpakumara (Anuradhapura)

Under 23 Men

1: Nidush Nirantha (Kurunegala) 2.09.50

2: Ashen Tharuka (Gampaha) 2.09.50

3: Charith Fernando (Gampaha) 2.09.50

Elite women

1: Niluka Shyamali (Kaluthara) 57.19.8

2: Ayesha Madushani (Rathnapura ) 57.19.8

3: H A D I Madushani Ranasnghe (Anuradhapura ) 57.19.8

Men’s Junior

1: Pasindu Lakshan (Kalutara) 1.06.50

2: Awishka Madosa (Kalutara) 1.06.50

3: Prabash Madhusanka (Gampaha) 1.06.50

Women’s Junior

1: Madumali Fernando (Kurunegala ) 37.47.0

2: W Sandunika Chandramali (Anuradhapura) 37.48.4

3: Udeshini Niranjana Kumarasinghe (Anuradhapura) 37.48.9

Master’s event ( 40-55 )

1: W S Jeewananda (Kalutara)

2: L A D Shelton (Kalutara)

3: M R Sarath Amarasinghe (Anuradhapura)

Masters’ event ( over 55 )

1: G Thomas Perera (Gampaha)

2: N C Kulathunge (Anuradhapura)

3: W Siwadasa (Kalutara)

Two skoda drivers Pontus Tidemand from Sweden and Gaurav Gill from India became the first and second according to their timings.

Speaking to the media Mike said that it was somewhat difficult to race on the gravel due to rainy weather and had to put some extra effort.

“I’m happy with my timings. It was pretty hard to as the track was very wet and slippery. Some parts wet and some parts dry. Also I had to be careful while putting some effort.”

When inquired about his car Mike said “It’s perfect, we used mud tyres for the car for the stage one as the track was wet and slippery. But we don’t hope to use it on the other stages.” He also mentioned “Definitely one of the toughest in the season and has plenty of things to hit on the side of the road and rocks and stuff.”

Though the rainy weather condition and the wind disturbed the Rally Show and the opening ceremony, the China racing lovers were seen carrying umbrellas and watching the race as the race began at 2.00 pm amidst the slight rain.

The second of 11 special stage races are slated for today.

This year, the main sponsor is Samsung – Sinhagiri Pvt Limited.

The timing event will start on October 30 at 9.00 am on Kawarakkulama road near the Air Force Camp and two players from each district are eligible to participate. For the men’s open event, the number of competitors will be decided according to the number of applicants from each district. There will be no limit for Women’s Open, Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s events.

There will be two special events, age group 40-55 category event and Over 55 years veteran events which will be held parallel to the main event. A cycle rally will be held on October 31 from 7.00 am under the theme ‘A cycle for all’.

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, North Central Provincial Chief Minister Peshala Jayarathne, Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Women’s Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara, Anuradhapura Mayor, Sri Lanka Cycling Association’s President Dr Amal Harsha de Silva and doctors, lawyers, businessmen, state officers, Army officers and students of the area will be participate for the rally.

The first event of the championship is Junior Men’s event which the Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera will flag off.

The award ceremony will be held on the same day evening and Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera will be the chief guest.

North Central Provincial Chief Minister Peshala Jayarathne, Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Women’s Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara, Anuradhapura Mayor, North Central Provincial Chief Secretary, Sri Lanka Cycling Association’s President Dr Amal Harsha de Silva and Samsung – Sinhagiri Pvt Limited officers will participate at the award ceremony.