Nationwide Cycling Initiative Promotes Fitness on Father's Day
Celebrating Fitness Across India
On June 15, the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) hosted the 27th edition of 'FIT India Sundays on Cycle' in New Delhi, spearheaded by national secretary Piyush Jain and 1992 Asian Marathon champion Sunita Godara. This cycling initiative took place in over 500 locations nationwide, attracting around 15,000 participants, as reported by a release from SAI Media.
At the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, more than 500 individuals participated in cycling activities to promote fitness and combat obesity, coinciding with the global celebration of Father's Day on the third Sunday of June. Participants also engaged in various activities such as Zumba, yoga, and rope skipping.
Piyush Jain emphasized the importance of fitness, stating, “We are here for the FIT India Sundays on Cycle, and there has been a significant enhancement in the sports ecosystem across the nation over the past decade. I urge children from remote villages and towns to join this cycling initiative. Being fit allows us to contribute more effectively to our country's economy. Cycling not only promotes health but also helps reduce air pollution and reliance on fossil fuels. It’s a great way to lower health expenses.”
Sunita Godara expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, noting, “Since the inception of Sundays on Cycle, people have been motivated to step out of their homes, whether in winter or summer. It’s encouraging to see this as an athlete. If everyone dedicates just 30 minutes to fitness, our families and society will thrive.”
Among the notable attendees were Tribhuvan Ram Narayan, professor and director of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, and swimming coach Manjeet Shekhawat from the Sonia Vihar Water Sports Club Society in Delhi. SAI Deputy Director General Mayank Srivastava honored all the dignitaries present.
Launched by Hon'ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya in December 2024, the 'FIT India Sundays on Cycle' initiative has reached over 10,500 locations across the country, engaging more than 375,000 individuals to date.
This cycling event is conducted simultaneously in all State and Union Territory capitals, as well as at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), and Khelo India centres (KICs) for various age groups.
In Manipur, Laishram Thambal Singh, Head of the Department of Physical Education & Sports Sciences at Manipur University, led a cycling event in Imphal with over 70 participants. In Guwahati, around 200 individuals joined the health initiative under the guidance of Shouvik Chanda, Director of the Bureau of Indian Standards. Patna saw participation from more than 100 individuals in a cycling event organized in collaboration with PEFI, Bihar Chapter.
In Lucknow, Prof. Dinesh Raj Modi, Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao University, led over 80 participants. In Karnataka, the Sundays on Cycle initiative was organized in Chitradurga, Kalaburagi, and Chamarajanagar cities. Additionally, over 80 individuals participated in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, as part of this nationwide movement.
The 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' initiative is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in partnership with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes, and MY Bharat.