Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State Smt. Raksha Khadse led the BRICS Friendship Cycling Event in Visakhapatnam on August 23, 2026, as part of the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle. The event was organized on the sidelines of the BRICS Youth & Sports Ministers' Meeting hosted by India, with participation from ministers and heads of departments from Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE, Iran, and South Africa.
The theme for this week's event was 'Unnat Bharat Abhiyan'. Dr. Mandaviya highlighted that cycling occurred at more than 18,000 locations across India to spread fitness awareness, noting benefits including exercise value, traffic congestion reduction, pollution control, fuel savings, and foreign exchange conservation. The visiting dignitaries appreciated the nationwide scale of the initiative.
The 87th edition was organized countrywide including New Delhi, Leh, Kargil, and Port Blair. Participants took the Nasha Mukt Bharat pledge against substance abuse. In New Delhi, a mega event at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium attracted over 1,000 participants starting at 5:30 AM with yoga, zumba, rope skipping, and a 5-km cycling ride around India Gate. Special guests included former Indian Handball team captain and coach Naveen Punia and choreographer Shivika Ashvine, with game zones featuring carrom, chess, badminton, tug of war, and obstacle races for participants aged 5 to 85 years.
The Fit India Sundays on Cycle is a Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports initiative under the Fit India Movement, organized with Cycling Federation of India, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat, conducted simultaneously across all states and union territories including SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence, and Khelo India Centres.
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