Thousands join Fit India Sundays on cycle as Telangana marks World Bicycle Day
Hyderabad, June 7
Thousands of citizens, athletes, students and fitness enthusiasts participated in a special edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle across Telangana on Sunday as the state celebrated World Bicycle Day with large-scale cycling and fitness activities.
The flagship event was held at the Gachibowli Practice Stadium, where Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla flagged off a cycle rally in the presence of senior ministers, government officials and sports administrators.
Organised by the Sports Authority of Telangana (SATG) under the Department of Sports, the event witnessed participation from hundreds of locations across the state, promoting fitness, healthy living and environmental awareness.
Among those present were Minister for ITE&C, Industries and Commerce and Legislative Affairs Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Minister for Youth Services and Sports Vakiti Srihari, Sports Advisor and Special Representative to the Government in New Delhi A.P. Jithender Reddy, Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Sports Authority of Telangana Chairman Shivasena Reddy and SATG Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr A. Sonibala Devi.
Addressing participants, Governor Shukla highlighted cycling's role in improving public health and protecting the environment, urging citizens to adopt cycling as a regular habit in line with the objectives of the Fit India Movement.
Participants began arriving at the venue early in the morning and took part in a Zumba warm-up session before joining the cycle rally. Medals were distributed to participants after the ride, followed by a community breakfast.
The Fit India Movement, launched on August 29, 2019, aims to make fitness an integral part of daily life. The Sundays on Cycle initiative has since grown into a nationwide campaign, engaging more than 30 lakh cycling enthusiasts and reaching over seven crore citizens through on-ground events and awareness programmes.
The Telangana celebrations drew participation from personnel of the CRPF, Indian Air Force, CISF, ITBP, CGDA, ESIC, police departments, sports academies, Khelo India Centres, educational institutions, cycling clubs and software companies.
Besides cycling, the programme also featured activities such as yoga, Zumba and rope skipping, reflecting the campaign's focus on making fitness accessible to people of all age groups.
Organisers said the event embodied the spirit of Jan Bhagidari and reinforced the collective commitment towards building a cleaner, greener and healthier India.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Wonderful initiative! I took my 8-year-old daughter to the local cycling event in our colony. She loved the Zumba warm-up and felt like a champion getting that medal 🥇. But I wish they'd organise such events every Sunday, not just on special days. Fitness should be a habit, not a one-time celebration.
Properly organised event with security forces participating as well. The CRPF and Air Force presence shows how seriously the government is taking fitness. In the US, we have similar events but they lack this community spirit. India is setting an example!
Great to see Telangana leading the way. But these events need to be more inclusive. Not everyone has access to good bicycles. The government should subsidise cycles for students and daily wage workers who commute long distances. Let's make cycling accessible to all, not just the fitness crowd.
As someone who cycles to work daily in London, I absolutely love seeing this in India! The community breakfast and medal distribution is such a nice touch 🫶. Telangana should build more dedicated cycling lanes though. Riding alongside auto-rickshaws and buses is not safe for anyone.
My father is a retired school teacher and he participated in the event at his local park. He said it reminded him of the good old days when everyone cycled to school and work. This is a beautiful blend of nostalgia and modern fitness culture. Also, great to see women and children participating in large numbers! 👏
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