New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) After a brief hiatus, the Fit India initiative’s flagship event ‘Sundays on Cycle’ is poised to make a spectacular return in the national capital, featuring a vibrant edition focused on “young leaders”.

The occasion will be honored by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, who has been a pivotal driving force behind this nationwide fitness campaign.

This particular edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle will showcase young leaders from all over the country, who are currently in Delhi for the esteemed Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue (VKYLD).

These young leaders will participate in the cycling event as special guests, representing the vital connection between youth leadership, nation-building, and a healthy, active lifestyle.

Olympic medalist and Commonwealth Games silver medalist Tulika Maan and renowned Indian wrestler Shivani Pawar will also take part in the cycling rally to promote the message of embracing an active lifestyle. Tulika is one of India’s top judokas in the heavyweight division, having secured a Silver Medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and is set to represent India at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Conversely, Shivani has made her presence felt on the global stage with numerous podium finishes. In 2021, she achieved a historic milestone by winning a silver medal in the 50kg category at the U-23 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, becoming the first Indian wrestler to medal at this event. That same year, she further solidified her international reputation by clinching gold at the World Police and Fire Games in Canada.

The cycling event will commence from the iconic Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium on January 11, traversing a 5-kilometer route through the heart of the capital. This early-morning ride aspires to motivate citizens—particularly the youth—to adopt fitness as a lifestyle and reinforce the notion that a fit India equates to a developed India.

The Young Leaders participating in the event have been chosen through a stringent multi-layer screening process, which included competitions in quizzing, essay writing, presentations, and speeches, culminating in the selection of 3000 Young Leaders who embody India’s aspirations for innovation, leadership, and progress.

These leaders will also engage in the three-day Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue, a landmark national platform that will feature the Honourable Prime Minister of India, along with distinguished figures such as astronaut Sudhanshu Shukla, tennis icon Leander Paes, and Indian women’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Kaur, among others.

On Sunday morning, around 300 of them will partake in the Sundays on Cycle event to promote fitness and environmental sustainability. In addition to the cycling rally, the event will offer lively and enjoyable fitness activities such as zumba, rope skipping, and yogasana, among others.

The return of Sundays on Cycle to Delhi, in conjunction with the involvement of India’s brightest young leaders, signifies a momentous occasion for the Fit India movement—emphasizing that youth leadership and physical fitness are essential for constructing a Viksit Bharat.

Previously, the cycling event has seen participation from Indian Army personnel, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Goods & Services Tax Council, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), and prominent sports figures like The Great Khali, Lovlina Borgohain, Priyanka Goswami, Rani Rampal, Rodali Barua, Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das, Rahul Banerjee, Mangal Singh Champia, Sangram Singh, Shanky Singh, Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora, and Paris Paralympics medalists Nitesh Kumar, Manisha Ramadass, Rubina Francis, and Simran Sharma (para world champion).

Top celebrities such as Ayushmann Khurana, Rohit Shetty, Saiyami Kher, Sharvari, Amit Sial, Rahul Bose, Madhurima Tuli, Mia Maelzer, and Gul Panag have also shown their support for this initiative. They have been honored with the title of ‘Fit India Icon’.