Suniel Shetty Leads Fit India’s ‘Sundays on Cycle’, Marks 8 Years of GST with Call for Daily Wellness

Actor and fitness advocate Suniel Shetty lent his voice and presence to the nationwide Sundays on Cycle event, hosted by the Fit India Movement in collaboration with CBIC-GST, calling for a shift in mindset towards daily wellness.

Speaking at the Mumbai leg of the event, Shetty urged consistency in fitness, saying, "Wellness is far cheaper than illness. Fitness should not be a one-day thing, like cycling only today, but must be practised every day for overall wellness. Only then does it make a difference." His presence added momentum to what's fast becoming a citizen-driven health movement.

The May 18 initiative also marked eight years of GST and brought together thousands across CBIC-GST centres nationwide, promoting fitness, sustainability, and community through synchronised cycling events.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the ride was flagged off by three prominent Olympians - Jisna Mathew (Rio 2016, 4x400m), M.P. Jabir (Tokyo 2020, 400m hurdles), and Anu Raghavan (Asian Games and Championships medalist) - inspiring over 200 riders. The cycling trail was led by five of India's top cycling talents - Pooja Danole, Dhanyadha JP, Srimathi J, Rejiya Devi, and Niraimathi J - each decorated with national and international honours, reinforcing the idea that fitness is a continuous journey, not a one-time effort.

In New Delhi, the movement extended beyond cycling. Grandmaster Tania Sachdev, fresh from her gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest, joined the crowd and shared her take on holistic fitness: "Fitness doesn't need fancy equipment or a gym - just willpower and discipline," she said. "Stamina is essential even in chess. Cycling is now a big part of my fitness regime." The event, held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, also featured Zumba, yoga, and rope skipping, making it a day-long celebration of physical and mental well-being.

The campaign spanned major locations including SAI RCs, STCs, NCOEs, Khelo India Centres, and key CBIC-GST zones. CBIC Special Secretary and Member, Mr. Shashank Priya, highlighted the importance of making fitness inclusive:

"This collaboration with Fit India and GST is a strong message that fitness is for everyone - not just for athletes. It's encouraging to see such awareness around lifestyle diseases and the need for better food habits and less sugar."

He further stressed, "What we eat is also important so that we control too much sugar and aerated drinks. It's important to ensure so we can fight obesity. We are prone to heart disease so it is important to move towards this goal of a fitter, healthier India."

Since its inception in December 2024, the cycling campaign has reached over 3 lakh citizens across 5,500+ locations. The movement has received enthusiastic support from well-known personalities like Sania Mirza, Milind Soman, Emraan Hashmi, John Abraham, Imtiaz Ali, Shankar Mahadevan, and Dara Singh.

In a video message, Shankar Mahadevan encouraged the public to join hands for health: "India is coming together to take a step towards fitness by cycling. I urge everyone to join our officers this Sunday and make it a memorable event." Milind Soman echoed the sentiment, saying, "Fit Hum, Toh Fit India."

As Sundays on Cycle gathers pace, it's not just transforming roads into cycling tracks - it's reshaping mindsets, one ride at a time.