Latest news with #TirangaRally
Hindustan Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shankar Mahadevan on IPL 2025 closing ceremony: ‘I feel truly humbled to pay tribute to our Armed Forces'
Over 15,000 cyclists nationwide participated in the Tiranga Rally, honoring armed forces during Fit India Sundays. Led by Dr. Mandaviya, the event celebrated patriotism, fitness, and environmental awareness, featuring celebrities and highlighting national unity through cycling.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- India Gazette
Tiranga Rally: 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle pays tribute to armed forces, celebrates World Bicycle Day
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): The 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, celebrated as Tiranga Cycling Rally, was successfully held in various parts of the country on Sunday morning. Highlighting a powerful blend of patriotism, fitness, and environmental awareness, more than 15000 cyclists from over 5000 locations joined in for a nationwide tribute to India's armed forces, as per a press release from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Media. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, led over 1500 cyclists at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium here, alongside Secretary (Sports) Hari Ranjan Rao, sports icons - Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt, cricketer Saba Karim, wrestler Sarita Mor, Bollywood actress Sharvari, and the Indian cycling team. One of the major highlights of the Sunday morning remained a full-fledged participation of cyclists from several regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Jammu, Poonch, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Bandipora, Shopian, Baramulla, Budgam, Samba and more. These cycling drives were conducted by several Khelo India Centres (KICs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and SAI Training Centres (STCs). Paying tribute to the armed forces, especially in light of the recent successful Operation Sindoor, Dr Mandaviya emphasized the deeper significance of this edition. 'This Tiranga Rally is a salute to our jawans and their sacrifice. Fitness and patriotism go hand in hand,' the Minister said. The landmark edition saw the launch of two key initiatives - the 'Fit India Newsletter' and the 'Carbon Credit Feature' on the 'Fit India' mobile app, where cyclists can now track the carbon credits they save by cycling regularly. 'One download of the app will make you a part of the Fit India movement,' Dr Mandaviya added. 'Your speed--from 7 to 34 kmph--and your distance will be recorded, and your carbon credits will be added.' The newly launched Fit India Newsletter will also serve as a monthly digest, featuring inspiring news stories as well as updates and training tips from various fitness influencers. Actress Sharvari, who is hailed as an upcoming superstar and is credited for films like Munjiya and Maharaja, was awarded the title of 'Young Fit India Icon' by Dr Mandaviya at the event. 'This movement is huge, and it is an honour to be a Fit India Icon. Cycling reminds me of school summer holidays--we all used to hire cycles and set out. This cycle rally is even more significant for me because this is for our brave soldiers. We can sleep peacefully in our homes because of them, and it is my great honour to pay tribute to their bravery through this Tiranga Rally,' he said. The Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative started in December 2024 with 150-odd cyclists and the participation figure has grown by leaps in a span of six months. Credit for this huge surge goes to partners such as the CISF, Indian Medical Association, journalist associations, teachers, Corporates, and professionals from several other walks of life who have made this possible. In this edition, the special partners were the Cycling Federation of India, Yogasana Bharat, Association of Indian Universities, BYCS India, CultFit and Red FM. Olympian and wrestling champion Yogeshwar Dutt called the initiative 'a movement that links national health with national pride'. He remarked, 'If we are healthy, the country will be healthy. Young kids, senior citizens, all are participating. That's the power of this campaign.' Several athletes pan-India also joined in to make the landmark 25th edition of Sundays of Cycle a grand success. Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Dipa Karmakar flagged off the rally in SAI Training Centre (STC) Agartala, while in SAI Sonepat, Deepika Kumari ( Padma Shri Awardee Archer), Purnima Mahato (Padma Shri Archery Coach), Arjuna Awardees Sumit Antil, Paralympics Double Gold Medallist and Asian Games Gold medallists Jyothi Surekha , Ojas Deotale, Aditi Gopichand Swami, Paralympians Sundar Gurjar and Pushpender took part. Renowned Indian Hockey player SK Uthappa was also in attendance in SAI Bengaluru. Meanwhile, there was a big representation of the All India Police force in SAI Rohtak. Rekha Arya, the Sports Minister of Uttarakhand, and Girish Yadav, the Sports Minister of Uttar Pradesh, joined in from respective events in Uttarakhand and Varanasi. Former cricketer and sports administrator Saba Karim praised the inclusiveness of the initiative. 'This is a brilliant step by SAI. Cycling keeps us fit and our surroundings green. I used to cycle to school myself. There's no maintenance, no pollution. A perfect tool for health and the environment.' Wrestler Sarita Mor, too, spoke passionately: 'I feel blessed to be part of this initiative started by PM Narendra Modi. Cycling is already a part of my training routine. Today, with this rally, we also remember our brave soldiers of Operation Sindoor. It is because of them that we stay safe today.' (ANI)
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
This word means: Sundays on Cycle
WHY NOW? Sunday (June 1) marked the 25th edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative, which was dedicated as a tribute to India's armed forces under the banner of the 'Tiranga Rally' in multiple cities. Over 1,200 cyclists participated in the rally at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi, led by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya. Fit India Sundays on Cycle is a nationwide fitness initiative to combat obesity. Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the campaign aims to promote cycling as a sustainable, inclusive, and eco-friendly form of exercise. As normal physical movement becomes limited and the dependency on food and grocery delivery apps increases for a section of the urban population, getting regular exercise has become a challenge. Cycling comes in here as a budget-friendly, high-impact form of exercise that not only improves cardiovascular health and boosts mental well-being but also addresses the risks of youth obesity. Since its launch, the initiative has been held at over 5,000 locations, with participation from more than 3 lakh people. One can participate through a simple registration process on the MyBharat and Fit India website and mobile app. Several Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres and Khelo India Centres (KICs) now host a variety of fitness activities during Sundays on Cycle events. These include Zumba, rope skipping, guided yoga sessions, and free health check-ups conducted by experts from the National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent Mann Ki Baat address, emphasised the need for nationwide awareness and collective action to reduce obesity, particularly through reducing edible oil consumption. India is grappling with a silent yet serious health crisis. Once seen as an issue limited to urban lifestyles (although still concentrated there), obesity has now spread across all sections of society, cutting across age groups, genders, and income levels. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), obesity is a chronic complex disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health. On the other hand, being overweight is a condition of excessive fat deposits. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) stated that over 24 per cent of Indian women and 23 per cent of Indian men are obese. Of greater concern is the rising number of children under the age of five who are now classified as overweight. A Lancet study earlier this year found that in 2021, India had overtaken China to become the country with the largest number of overweight and obese older adolescents, aged between 15 and 24. This growing trend is largely driven by unhealthy eating habits, sedentary routines, and a sharp decline in physical activity — all increasingly common in modern Indian lifestyles. High levels of sugar, salt and food items are a matter of concern, especially as the MNCs producing them have shifted from high-income to low- and middle-income countries.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"We Will Win Most Medals In Wrestling In 2036 Olympics": Yogeshwar Dutt
Former wrestler and Olympic medalist Yogeshwar Dutt said that India aims to better its record in wrestling in the coming years, after a period marred by protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) ex-president Brij Bhushan Singh and consequent setbacks. The sport he added will be the biggest contributor to the country's medal tally in the 2036 Olympics, if they are held in India. He said this on the sidelines of the 25th edition of the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' initiative, termed Tiranga Rally, as a tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, taking place in the national capital today. Speaking about the lifting of the ban on WFI imposed by the Sports Ministry in March and the current wrestling scenario in the country, Dutt said, "The last two years were very bad for wrestling. There was a negative image of wrestling all over the country. There is a case going on in the court. But we have won medals in wrestling in five Olympic Games. We have won medals from 2008 to 2024 in this sport, and the wrestlers are strong. But it has been very bad for two years. Otherwise, we could have won two or three medals in the Paris Olympics." "But our target is to do even better in wrestling. And the federation has started doing its work in its own way. Before that (before protests), wherever we used to go, we used to win medals. And a lot of sponsors came to us. We started the Pro Wrestling League (in 2015). So that the poor wrestlers get a chance. And we get an international platform in our country through the league. So that our junior wrestlers can benefit." "And we will win more medals in the upcoming Olympics. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream is that the Olympics will be held in India in 2036. India is working hard for that. So that we can become a global power in sports. And I believe that wrestling will be its biggest contribution. The Olympics will be held in India in 2036. So I believe that we will win the most medals in wrestling," he said. Speaking on the 'Tiranga Rally' initiative during the Fit India 'Sundays on Cycle', Dutt said, "This was in honour of our forces. It is a good thing that in the 25th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle, we honoured our forces. What they did was a huge matter of pride for us. This Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative will give a message to everyone in the country that, as long as we are fit and healthy, the nation stands strong." Notably, Operation Sindoor was India's decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Launched on May 7, Operation Sindoor led to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres, and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan. After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. Listen to the latest songs, only on
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Wrestling will be biggest contributor to India's medal tally in 2036: Yogeshwar Dutt
Yogeshwar Dutt (ANI Photo) Former Olympic medalist and celebrated wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt expressed optimism about India's wrestling future, saying the sport will play a pivotal role in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's dream of hosting the 2036 Olympics in India. Speaking at the 25th edition of the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' Tiranga Rally in New Delhi, Dutt was quoted as saying, "Wrestling will be the biggest contributor to India's medal tally if the Olympics are held here in 2036." Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Reflecting on the turmoil caused by the controversy surrounding former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh, Dutt admitted that the last two years had severely impacted the sport. "There was a negative image across the country. We could have won two or three medals in Paris, but the situation hampered our progress," he said. Who's that IPL player? However, he welcomed the lifting of the Sports Ministry's ban on WFI and said the sport is gradually returning to stability. "The federation has resumed its work. Before the crisis, we were consistently winning medals and even launched the Pro Wrestling League to support poor wrestlers and provide international exposure," he added. IPL 2025 Winner Prediction: What Greenstone Lobo's Astrology says Dutt believes that with the right infrastructure and support, Indian wrestling can achieve even greater success. "India is working hard to become a global sports power. I am confident that wrestling will lead the way in our medal haul at the 2036 Olympics," he said, underscoring the potential of the sport to shine on the biggest global stage.
