New Delhi: A massive wave of fitness enthusiasts swept across the nation as India celebrated World Bicycle Day with an unprecedented single-day cycling drive. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the event saw more than four lakh individuals hit the roads across thousands of locations, spanning from the heights of Kargil and Leh down to Kanyakumari.
The epicenter of the action was New Delhi’s iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where a sea of over fifteen thousand cyclists gathered. Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya led the flagship event alongside prominent figures, including actor Vikrant Massey, World Championships silver medal-winning boxer Nupur Sheoran, and actor Ragini Dwivedi. Before the main ride commenced, the crowd witnessed a lighthearted moment of competitive spirit when the Sports Minister defeated Massey in a friendly game of tug of war.
This massive turnout marked the 77th edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative, a program originally introduced by Dr Mandaviya in December 2024 that has already engaged over thirty lakh lives. Highlighting the long-term athletic and health benefits, the minister emphasized that adding just thirty minutes of daily fitness through cycling directly tackles modern lifestyle challenges while boosting mental and physical endurance.
The nationwide sports movement saw extensive logistical support and active participation from various state sports departments and national security forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Central Armed Police Forces. Organised in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India, Yogasana Bharat, Raahgiri Foundation, and MY Bharat, the synchronised drive ran concurrently across all states and union territories, mobilizing grassroots athletes at several regional Sports Authority of India centres and Khelo India training hubs.