The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the 89th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle in Surat with the theme 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat'. The event attracted over 5 million participants across more than 25,000 locations nationwide, promoting healthy, active, and substance-free lifestyles. Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi led the Surat event, administering the Nasha Mukt Pledge to participants to reaffirm commitment to building a drug-free India.
The Surat event commenced at Sardar Patel Statue, Mangadh Chowk, featuring fitness activities, yoga, zumba, and various challenges before a cycling ride toward Sarthana Zoo. Minister Mandaviya emphasized that cycling offers multiple benefits: effective exercise, support for Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign, pollution reduction, and fuel conservation. He urged participants to incorporate cycling into daily routines beyond Sundays, especially for nearby workplace commutes.
Prominent athletes participated in the 6km awareness ride, including Padma Shri awardee and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awardee Achanta Sharath Kamal, former World No. 1 wrestler Sarita Mor, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Harmeet Desai, U-23 World Championships medalist Shivani Pawar, and Commonwealth Championship gold medallist Rahul Mann. Fitness influencers including Vispy Kharadi, Rakesh Saini, Urvi Parwani, Pankaj Pasi, and Bhishma Madani also participated.
In New Delhi, a parallel event at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium celebrated Teachers' Day with approximately thousand participants, honoring teachers and coaches for their contributions to youth development. The event was attended by Fit India Champion Monica Bhola, Yoga Instructor & Fit India Ambassador Monika Sharma, and International Athletics Coach Hav. Sanjay Singh.
The initiative is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat. It is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, including at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence, and Khelo India Centres. Over 6000 NAMO Fit India clubs organize the cycling initiative nationwide every week.
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