The Great Khali to lead 31st Fit India Sundays on Cycle Edition in Delhi on July 13

Ahead of the 31st edition of the nationwide cycling initiative scheduled for July 13, Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has urged citizens to continue supporting the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ movement with renewed enthusiasm.

The Great Khali to lead 31st Fit India Sundays on Cycle Edition in Delhi on July 13

Photo: IANS

Ahead of the 31st edition of the nationwide cycling initiative scheduled for July 13, Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has urged citizens to continue supporting the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ movement with renewed enthusiasm.

Organised in collaboration with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the upcoming edition will be held simultaneously at over 6,000 locations across India, with an estimated participation of 50,000 cyclists.

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A major highlight of this weekend’s event will be the participation of former WWE champion and India’s only Heavyweight title winner, The Great Khali. The 7-foot-tall icon will lead the cycling rally in New Delhi, starting from the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, alongside several other prominent figures.

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“From a humble beginning in December last year, this cycling drive has become a nationwide fitness revolution, covering over 11,000 locations and inspiring lakhs of citizens. We are taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an ‘Obesity-Free India’ forward with every pedal stroke. Let the Fit India Sundays on Cycle continue to reflect the spirit of a new India. Let us keep pedalling our way towards a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant Viksit Bharat,” Dr Mandaviya said.

Launched by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in December 2024, Fit India Sundays on Cycle has evolved into a flagship national campaign encouraging lakhs of citizens to adopt cycling as a lifestyle.

According to the latest data, the campaign has expanded to over 11,000 locations across India, with more than four lakh citizens from various age groups participating, a ministry statement said.

Special partners for this Sunday’s cycling drive are PSUs. Over 500 cyclists are expected to join Khali, aka Dalip Singh Rana, in New Delhi. Dalip, 52, became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed by WWE in 2006.

Earlier editions of ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ have embraced diverse themes—from tributes to the Armed Forces and postmen to collaborations with sanitation workers and doctors.

The overarching message remains a “Fight Against Obesity,” a clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This edition places special emphasis on corporate partnerships through PSUs, further reinforcing the government’s holistic approach to national fitness and the development of Indian sports.

Adding vibrancy to the 31st edition, a special event hosted by the Raahgiri Foundation in Gurgaon will feature dance zones, hand-painting corners, and traditional street games like Ludo, Carrom, and Snakes & Ladders—transforming public spaces into community playgrounds.

‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), MY Bharat, and Yogasana Bharat.

Over 2,000 cycling clubs across India actively participate in this movement every Sunday. These cycling drives are conducted by several Khelo India Centres (KICs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India Accredited Academies (KIAAs), Regional Centres (RCs), and various National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs).

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