Mandaviya leads 'Fit India Sundays' on cycle in Gujarat's Gandhinagar; The Great Khali graces 31st edition of event in Delhi
Organised this week in partnership with Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), the pan-India cycling drive witnessed participation from over 7000 locations across the country, reinforcing the message of 'Fitness Ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz'. The participation included from 3000 Namo Fit India Cycling clubs.
'Fit India 'Sundays on Cycle' has now become a powerful nationwide initiative, carrying forward Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's Fit India mission with full power. It has truly become a series that's not just about fitness but also about national transformation. In over 7000 places, our youth today has actively participated in this movement,' mentioned Mandaviya in Gujarat, as quoted from a release by SAI media.
Mandaviya also interacted with the Indian Youth Women's Handball team, who are currently undergoing their national coaching camp at the SAI NCOE Gandhinagar. The Gandhinagar event was flagged off by Arjuna Awardee and Para Powerlifting Chief Coach, Rajinder Singh Rahelu, at SAI Gandhinagar. The event was also attended by local dignitaries including MLAs, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, District Collector and Superintendent of Police.
The participants across these events included people from leading PSUs like PSPB, ONGC, Indian Oil, GAIL, HPCL, BPCL, EIL, Oil India, CPCL, IGL, NRL, MNGL, HMEL, Petronet LNG, Balmer Lawrie, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, and ONGC MRPL, Gujarat Metro, NPCC, WAPCOS, LIC, and more.
Lalit Kumar Watts, Advisor at Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), said, 'The Fit India Sundays on Cycle is a great initiative under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi ji and Hon'ble Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. All oil companies under PSPB took part in this cycling drive as well as athletes from hockey, basketball, shooting, athletics and carrom, joined today.'
In the national capital New Delhi, the 31st edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle took place at the Major Dhyanchand Stadium in a carnival like atmosphere which included rope skipping, Zumba and hatha yoga activities. Former WWE World Heavyweight champion and the only Indian to hold that feat, The Great Khali, flagged off the drive. Attended by over 3000 old and young fitness enthusiasts, Khali, 52, stressed the importance of fitness in Bharat becoming a 'Vishwaguru'.
'Our Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dreams of India becoming a 'Vishwaguru', and that dream will come true only if we are healthy and strong. Let us all come together to strengthen this idea of Modiji and make everyone aware. Let's all take out one hour daily for fitness and handle the rest of life after that,' Khali said.
Khali, aka Dalip Singh Rana, also urged youth to 'stay away from drugs' and focus on positive pursuits like fitness and sports.
A special edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle was also organized in collaboration with Raahgiri Foundation in Gurgaon, which saw 700 participants cycling, doing yoga as well as take part in a plethora of fun games including street dance, ludo, carrom, snake & ladders, hand painting and more.
The 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, Rope Skipping led by Shikha Gupta and Yogasana Bharat. More than 3000 Cycling Clubs are part of the movement and actively participate 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), as well as various National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) across the country. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
New clause could leave BCCI out of RTI ambit
New Delhi: A proposed amendment to the newly-introduced National Sports Governance Bill 2025 being circulated among Members of Parliament could put the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) outside the purview of the Right to Information Act since it doesn't receive grants or financial assistance from the central or state governments. BCCI will have to be registered as a National Sports Federation and follow the provisions of the Bill. (Hindustan Times via Getty Images) The bill, which seeks to bring in reforms in governance of Indian sports bodies, was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 23 by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and is yet to be taken up for discussion in the House, amid a continuing stand-off over the Opposition's demand over a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The clause 15 (2) of the bill states, 'A recognised sports organisation shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties and powers under this Act.' A new clause that is being inserted into the bill clarifies what constitutes a public authority. 'A recognised sports organisation, receiving grants or any other financial assistance from the Central Government under sub-section (1) or from a State Government, shall be considered as a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005, with respect to utilisation of such grants or any other financial assistance.' HT has seen a copy of the bill. Under the RTI Act, a public authority is a body 'established, constituted, owned, controlled or substantially financed by funds provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government or the Union Territory administration, the Central Government; or by the State Government.' According to people aware of the development, 'The amendment was done just to bring the bill in line with the RTI Act, 2005. BCCI might not take financial grants from the government but they do take government assistance such as infrastructure, subsidised land, state facilities, etc.' The cash rich BCCI has long resisted being brought under the RTI Act. The powerful sports body never required government recognition as a National Sports Federation as BCCI manages its own finances. However, with cricket is now an Olympic sport as part of the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games and the Bill is seen as part of preparatyions for making a bid to host the 2036 Games. In 2018, Chief Information Commission (CIC) held the BCCI as the public authority under RTI Act, and put in place a system of online and offline mechanisms to receive applications for information under RTI Act. The Ministry of Youth And Sports Affairs was directed to take necessary steps to ensure implementation of this order. However, BCCI filed a writ petition in the Madras high court which granted a stay order. BCCI will still have to be registered as a National Sports Federation and follow the provisions of the Bill. If the Bill becomes law, it will be the first time that BCCI will become a designated 'NSF.' BCCI will have to seek recognition from the National Sports Board (NSB) and refer its legal cases to the National Sports Tribunal, both proposed in the sports Bill. According to the Bill, the National Sports Board shall have the power to grant recognition to any sports organisation as 'National Sports Body.' The NSB can suspend or cancel recognition of the sports body or its affiliate units if the provisions of the act are violated or in case it 'failed to hold elections for its Executive Committee or has committed' or there were 'gross irregularities in the election procedures.' It can also act if the federation 'failed to publish annual audited accounts or misused, misapplied or misappropriated public funds.' The NSB shall consult the respective global governing body before taking any such decision, stated the Bill. There is another proposed amendment that states a person shall not be qualified to contest for election in a federation or seek nomination to the posts of the president, secretary general or treasurer unless previously served as a member for 'at least one full term in the executive committee of the national sports body or as the president, or the secretary general or the treasurer in its affiliate unit.' In the original Bill, the duration a person needed to serve for the top three posts was two full terms as member of the executive committee. This restrictive clause, however, doesn't apply for the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM), according to the proposed amendment.
United News of India
4 hours ago
- United News of India
IGPL will be launchpad for future generations: Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar
New Delh, Aug 6(UNI) Gaganjeet Singh Bhullar, the veteran Indian golfer, has signed on with the Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) as an Icon player, and will be leading one of the six franchises in the highly-anticipated tournament. The Arjuna Awardee, during a media briefing, expressed his excitement, describing IGPL as one of the most exciting golf ventures in many years, and explained the reasons behind his participation. 'Golf is an individual sport. But whenever I have had the opportunity to represent my country, I have really enjoyed playing as a team,' Bhullar, who was part of India's silver medal-winning team at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, said. 'When I heard the news regarding a golf league, I knew it was exactly what I was looking forward for. Because we do not often get to play as a team. I think that was one part which was missing and I was really looking forward to do that,' the 37-year-old said. IGPL will be hosting India's first-ever professional league tour to feature both men and women playing on the same platform, competing across franchise teams and regional circuits. The integrated format not only redefines how golf is played in India but also reflects their commitment to promote inclusive excellence and athlete empowerment. From having the Indian cricket legend and golf enthusiast Yuvraj Singh as a co-owner and the brand ambassador, to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Golf Union (IGU) — the official governing body for men's amateur golf in India - the IGPL has already made major moves to establish themselves as a premier league competition for men's, women's and amateur golf talent. Bhullar views the tournament as an opportunity to nurture, groom and spot fresh talent – and is eager to help in this endeavour. 'When I got the opportunity to be a captain of one of the teams, I thought I could mentor the next generation of Indian golfers. I am personally going to really enjoy this aspect. There are other icon stars with the likes of Shiv Kapur, Gaurav Ghei, SSP Chawrasia – who all have been veterans of the sport. This will be really beneficial for the young players to quicken their growth,' he further added. Further, to create an overall impact on the ecosystem and to funnel rising talent into the league, IGPL tour will be played across different cities in the build-up to the first edition of the league between September and December. 'One of the things that people don't realise is that golf is a very expensive sport. And for some of the youngsters to get a launchpad like the IGPL at early stages of their careers is immensely helpful. It's not just a ceremonial league. It's going to be very competitive and there's going to be serious prize money to win here,' Bhullar said. 'Hence, for some youngsters to come out and get that opportunity to make money and invest it in themselves, and then to go and play across different tournaments is a big thing. Because golf being an expensive sport, it's sometimes very difficult to have the resources to invest in your own game at the starting point of your career. I think that's something that the league will also do,' Bhullar added. IGPL also aims to transform the golf ecosystem by paving pathways for mentorship for amateurs by bringing on overseas talent and legends of the sport to give the best possible exposure and guidance for athletes. With a heavy focus on developing athletes at grassroots level and developing a pipeline of athletes, IGPL will also be tying up with various schools and universities in India. Furthermore, to promote inclusivity in golf, IGPL has also partnered with Women's Golf Association of India (WGAI)to elevate women's golf and provide structured, high-visibility platforms for female athletes. UNI RKM
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
BCCI To Become To Come Under New Sports Bill, RTI Scope Narrowed
When Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on July 23, 2025, it had a sweeping clause stating that 'a recognised sports organisation shall be considered a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005 with respect to the exercise of its functions, duties, and powers under this Act." However, in a revised version now being circulated among MPs, Clause 15(2) has been altered to state: 'A recognised sports organisation, receiving grants or any other financial assistance from the Central Government… or from a State Government, shall be considered a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005, with respect to utilisation of such grants or any other financial assistance." This subtle yet impactful shift means that sports bodies, including the BCCI, which operate without any financial assistance from the government, will not fall under the RTI Act—thereby maintaining their operational opacity. In spite of these relaxations, the bill mandates a minimum representation of sportspersons in the executive body of every NSF. This includes two athletes of outstanding merit, two members from the athlete committee, and at least four women—an effort to bring athlete voices into the decision-making process. Despite escaping the RTI net, the BCCI will now have to register itself as a National Sports Federation (NSF)—a first for the influential cricket body. With cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, this registration is now mandatory under the Olympic Charter. This paves the way for India's cricket team to participate officially in Olympic events. Key benefits for BCCI Key benefits for BCCI under the New Legislation include Longer Tenures, Greater Stability, as the proposed bill allows sports administrators to enjoy longer terms, relaxing the current Supreme Court-mandated limits of three terms and a maximum age of 70 years. This is seen as a strategic advantage for India, particularly in securing stronger representation in global bodies like the International Cricket Council (ICC), and aligns with India's long-term Olympic ambitions—including the bid for hosting the 2036 Games. It also streamlined dispute redressal as BCCI-related disputes will now fall under the jurisdiction of the National Sports Tribunal, offering a single-window mechanism for resolution. This change will cut down on litigation in multiple courts and provide a faster route to the Supreme Court for appeals. However, matters falling exclusively under the ICC or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will remain outside the Tribunal's ambit. The BCCI will no longer require the Supreme Court's approval for constitutional amendments—providing flexibility in operations and policy decisions. It can also restructure its Apex Council to align with ICC statutes, without the mandatory inclusion of external members. Though financially self-sufficient, BCCI's recognition as an NSF may make it eligible for certain government benefits, including logistical support for Olympic preparation.
