Chandigarh
2 March 2023
DIVYA AZAD
The 36th edition of the SJOBA Rally was flagged off from St John’s High School, Chandigarh, Sector 26 on Thursday. The ceremonial flag-off of the event took place in the presence of Gurkirat Kripal Singh(IAS), Secretary, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Punjab; Ms. Amrit Singh,(IAS), Director, Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Punjab; Kavita C. Das, Principal, St John’s High School, M L Sarin, Senior advocate of Punjab and Haryana High Court, SJOBA President Nipun Mehan , and SJOBA Secretary – Shivam Garg, among others.
The 3 day mega event is being organised by St. John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA) – the alumni association of St John’s High School, Chandigarh.
As many as 22 four wheelers, 53 two wheelers(motorbikes) and 15 teams in the Time Speed Distance(TSD) section of the rally from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and other parts of India are taking part in the motorsports event. Two women riders are participating in the 2 wheeler(motorbikes) segment and there is one all women team of 3 members taking part in the TSD segment of the event.
Nipun Mehan, President, SJOBA said, “Unlike the previous events, this time the ‘SJOBA Rally’ is going to be more exciting and fun as it spans over two nights and three days for the first time ever. The route is going to be a challenging and adventurous one covering ‘axle-breaking’ riverbeds – both dry and wet, fast tarmacs with winding hair pins, unmetalled surfaces and exhilarating hilly terrain in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.”
Shivam Garg, Secretary, SJOBA said, “SJOBA Motorsports rally is one of the best platforms in India for all the professionals and budding rallyists to test their driving skills. As the rally is known for its challenging routes and scenic landscapes, participants can hone their skills and showcase their talent to the world. For the four wheelers, there will be a night stage too.”
“The regions that would be covered during 3 exhilarating days of SJOBA Rally are Ropar, Garhshankar, Mansowal and Hoshiarpur. The total prize money for the 2023 version of the rally is around Rs 6 lakh. There are trophies and other awards too for the participants and winners,” said S P S Ghai, Clerk of Course (COC) SJOBA Rally 2023.
The rally will conclude on 5th March at 4:30 pm at St John’s High School, and will be followed by a prize distribution at CGA Golf range, Chandigarh from 7.30 pm onwards.
