Surat/New Delhi: More than 50 lakh young people participated in the 89th edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle campaign at over 25,000 locations across the country on Sunday, with this week’s theme centred on “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat”.
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya led the main event in Surat, where he, along with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, administered the Nasha Mukt Pledge to participants, reaffirming a collective commitment towards a drug-free India.
The event began at Mangadh Chowk in Surat and featured fitness activities, yoga, zumba sessions and awareness programmes before participants undertook a cycling ride to Sarthana Zoo.
Addressing the gathering, Mandaviya said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Fit India movement had inspired the nationwide cycling campaign and stressed that a healthy population was essential for building a developed nation.
He highlighted cycling as an effective form of exercise that supports the fight against drug abuse, helps reduce pollution and lowers fuel consumption. The minister urged people to make cycling a part of their daily routine rather than limiting it to Sundays.
Several prominent sportspersons joined the six-kilometre ride, including table tennis legend Achanta Sharath Kamal, former world No. 1 wrestler Sarita Mor, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Harmeet Desai, wrestler Shivani Pawar and boxer Rahul Mann. Fitness influencers and Fit India ambassadors also participated in the awareness campaign.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the 89th edition of the programme was organised at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium with a special Teachers’ Day theme, recognising the contribution of teachers and coaches in shaping young lives. Around 1,000 students, youth and fitness enthusiasts took part in the event.
The programme was attended by Fit India Champion Monica Bhola, Fit India Ambassador and yoga instructor Monika Sharma, and international athletics coach Hav. Sanjay Singh.
The Sundays on Cycle initiative is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India, Raahgiri Foundation and MY Bharat. The weekly campaign is conducted simultaneously across states and Union Territories through Sports Authority of India centres, Khelo India institutions and more than 6,000 NAMO Fit India Clubs.
