New Delhi, Aug 10 (NationPress) This morning, Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya rode alongside citizens in the national capital as the chief guest for the 35th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, taking place just days before Independence Day.

The event commenced at the Jawahar Lal Nehru (JLN) Stadium and is a part of a nationwide cycling initiative that began in December 2024, evolving into a weekly fitness celebration. This week, more than 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across India were invited to partake in this initiative.

Before the event kick-off, Dr. Mandaviya addressed attendees and underscored the numerous benefits of cycling, which is advantageous for both personal health and the environment. He stated, “Cycling not only keeps us fit but is also Pollution ka Solution. Furthermore, it connects us to the ethos of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he asserted.

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India Mission, the initiative ‘Sundays on Cycle’ has emerged as a significant movement in our country. Today, representatives from over 50,000 villages are participating and communicating the Fit India message, linking their communities to this cause,” Dr. Mandaviya noted. He encouraged the public to embrace cycling not just on Sundays but as a daily practice, promoting it as a preferred mode of transport while advocating for Fit India.

Three-time Olympian and Arjuna Award-winning rifle shooter Sanjeev Rajput also joined as a special guest in the capital. He remarked, “Cycling is ideal for individuals unable to run due to cervical issues. It also fosters a profound mind-body connection. The energy here is infectious; I feel inspired to join every Sunday,” said Rajput, who also coaches the junior national rifle team.

He added that a dedicated 6-7 km track at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range is utilized by aspiring shooters for their daily cycling regimen.

The Fit India Sundays on Cycle event in Delhi today also featured participation from panchayat sarpanches Jitender (Pali Gaon, Haryana), Pardeep Kumar (Khaleta Gaon, Haryana), and Kishan Kumar (Keria Gaon, Haryana). Notable attendees included actors Rishi Bhutani and Naresh Gosain. Additionally, representatives from MYBharat and URJA, the leading body of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Delhi, were present. The event also featured activities such as yoga, Zumba, rope skipping, badminton, and interactive games for children like carrom, chess, and ludo.

Since its inception, the Fit India Sundays on Cycle movement has impacted over seven lakh individuals across more than 40,000 locations nationwide. The initiative is led by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), the rope skipping team headed by Dr. Shikha Gupta, Raahgiri Foundation, MYBharat, and My Bikes. The campaign is actively conducted in all State and Union Territory capitals, at Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), and Khelo India centres.