Fit India Sundays on Cycle heads to Goa for Vijay Diwas special; legendary footballers, Olympians set to grace event
Panaji, Dec 13 (LatestNewsX) – Goa’s picturesque coastline is set to buzz with a new kind of celebration as the Fit India Sundays on Cycle event launches a special edition here for Vijay Diwas, paying tribute to the country’s armed forces.
The one‑day ride will start at 7 a.m. and stretch from Miramar Beach Circle to Dona Paula Circle. Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports together with the Goa Directorate of Sports, this flagship event turns the state into a living fitness carnival.
A press briefing earlier this week was led jointly by Mayank Srivastav, Deputy Director General of the Sports Authority of India, and Dr. Ajay Gaude, Secretary of the Sports Authority of Goa, teasing the big day on December 14.
“Fit India Sundays on Cycle will become a real Fitness Carnival,” Srivastav said. “Goa can join in a variety of activities—zumba, yoga, rope‑skipping, plus the cycling itself. This is the 53rd edition of SOC. Last year alone, about 20 lakh people across India took part. We’re thrilled to bring this national event to Goa.”
He went on to explain that the mega event was originally held in Delhi, but to spread fitness nationwide it has now moved to states and territories outside the capital. After Varanasi, Goa is the second location outside Delhi, chosen for its beautiful scenery, wide roads and fresh air.
Dr. Gaude welcomed the collaboration with the Sports Ministry, noting that the Sports Authority of Goa will also start a cycling club for everyday citizens.
The Goa edition will feature guests such as Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar, Goa’s Sports Minister, and Santosh Gunwantrao Sukhadeve, IAS and Secretary (Sports). Sports stars will also be present: Olympian and World Championship gold medallist boxer Jaismine Lamboria, Olympian Subedar Manish Kaushik, Arjuna Awardee footballer Bruno Coutinho, and the legendary Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee.
Adding extra motivation, Maymol Rocky—India’s first female head coach of the Senior Women’s National Football Team—will join the ride. Telugu comedian Md. Ali and actor Manchu Manoj Kumar will also attend to rally the crowd.
The theme of Vijay Diwas will be highlighted by senior officers and units from the Army, Navy and NCC, reinforcing the link between fitness, discipline and national service. State Fit India Champions and Ambassadors will also take part, bolstering the movement’s grassroots roots.
Fit India Sundays on Cycle started in December 2024 under Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and has since expanded from a single nodal event to a countrywide series. After successful editions in Jaipur and Varanasi, Goa now hosts the initiative’s next chapter, reflecting its growing national presence. Over the last year, hundreds of thousands of people have ridden in thousands of locations, championing #FightObesity and #PollutionKaSolution.
With the Arabian Sea as its backdrop and the spirit of Vijay Diwas in the air, the Goa edition promises a meaningful blend of fitness, freedom and honour for our armed forces, inviting everyone to pedal for health, pride and unity.
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