Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya led the 77th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle on World Bicycle Day, 7 June 2025, anchoring a mass cycling drive that drew over 4 lakh participants across thousands of locations — from Kargil and Leh in the north to Kanyakumari and Alleppey in the south, and from Tripura to Vadodara. The flagship event was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, where more than 15,000 fitness enthusiasts turned out.

Who Joined the Ride

Actor Vikrant Massey, World Championships silver medallist boxer Nupur Sheoran, and Kannada actor Ragini Dwivedi joined Mandaviya at the New Delhi venue. Before the ride, Mandaviya defeated Massey in a friendly tug-of-war contest, after which cyclists took to the road amid chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Fit India, Hit India'. Triple jump athlete Prachi Tomar and national-level 3000m steeplechaser Shivani Pradhania also participated in the cyclothon.

Scale and Reach of the Initiative

Launched by Mandaviya in December 2024, Fit India Sundays on Cycle has now reached more than 30 lakh people across thousands of locations in India. The drive is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Yogasana Bharat, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat. It runs simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, covering SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs).

The sports departments of several State Governments, along with the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, CISF, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, and SSB participated in large numbers. The Cycling Federation of India also organised the Asmita cycling tournaments exclusively for women across India. The international cycling body, the UCI, collaborated with the event as well.

What the Minister Said

'Today marks the 77th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle. Cycling improves health and keeps you mentally fit. It also helps save fuel and keeps the planet clean. It is also an effective solution to the growing problem of traffic congestion. Cycling addresses many challenges at once,' Mandaviya said. He further urged citizens to dedicate at least 30 minutes daily to fitness in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Fit India Movement.

Voices from the Ground

For Massey, the event evoked nostalgia. 'After many years, this Sunday morning brought back memories of how we used to go out with our friends during childhood... Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has been very committed to this initiative for the past 1.5 to 2 years. He cycles daily and participates every Sunday, which is truly inspiring. It has become a movement,' the actor said. He also called on parents to encourage children to reduce screen time and engage in outdoor play.

Boxer Nupur Sheoran, a two-time World Cup gold medallist in the 80kg class, said the large turnout reflected growing awareness about physical fitness. 'I urge everyone to take out at least 15–30 minutes for cycling or any other physical activity every day,' she added, before giving boxing tips to Massey ahead of the ride.

On the Ground at JN Stadium

A dedicated fun zone at the venue offered badminton, chess, carrom, and ludo, alongside lemon races, tug-of-war, squat challenges, and push-up challenges. Institutions including the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Kisan Sanghs, My Bharat Volunteers, Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), and Kreeda Bharati members participated, supported by sponsors including Avon Cycles and Cyclofit. Various Municipal Corporations also organised cycling events within their jurisdictions.

With the initiative now spanning its 77th consecutive Sunday edition, the government is expected to scale participation further ahead of the next major fitness calendar milestone.