Gandhinagar, Aug 23 (IANS) A morning of cycling, sport and classroom-style activities brought schoolchildren together at the Sports Authority of India (SAI)’s National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Gandhinagar on Sunday, as the 87th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle was held under the theme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’.
Students from Om Landmark School and Green Valley School for Children participated in the event at Swarn Jayanti Park, taking part in a range of fitness, recreational and educational activities before cycling through the SAI NCoE campus.
The programme began with a warm-up and physical training session, followed by a fitness challenge in which students competed in push-ups.
The morning also featured cultural performances and activities aimed at giving the children opportunities beyond physical exercise.
Sayanti, a Class 6 student of Green Valley School for Children, presented a dance to the patriotic song ‘Teri Mitti’, adding a musical element to the programme.
Ravalveer, a Class 10 student of Om Landmark School, performed a Gujarati folk song for the participants. The event also included a short session on financial awareness.
Harshiv of Green Valley School for Children gave a presentation on the ‘Basic Introduction to Finance’, introducing participants to fundamental aspects of the subject.
The students later took part in games, including train box, badminton, volleyball, carrom and chess before moving on to the cycling activity. They cycled within the SAI National Centre of Excellence campus as part of the weekly fitness initiative.
The 87th edition was held across the country, with events also taking place in locations, including New Delhi, Leh, Kargil and Port Blair.
In Visakhapatnam, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse led a BRICS Friendship Cycling Event alongside representatives from several BRICS member countries.
More than 18,000 locations across the country were reported to have participated in this week’s cycling drive.
Mandaviya said cycling is beneficial not only as exercise but also in helping address traffic congestion and pollution, while reducing fuel consumption.
“Therefore, let us all stay fit to build a developed India,” he added.
‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ was launched in December 2024 by Mandaviya and is organised by the Sports Authority of India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India and partner organisations.
The initiative is conducted simultaneously across states and Union territories, including at SAI Regional Centres, NCOEs, SAI Training Centres, Khelo India State Centres of Excellence and Khelo India Centres.
The programme combined the cycling initiative with sports, cultural activities and basic learning, giving participating schoolchildren a varied Sunday morning centred on fitness and participation.
–IANS
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