Jalandhar, October 18, 2026: The message of fitness and a drug-free Punjab took centre stage at DAV University in Jalandhar on Sunday as more than 500 people participated in the Sports Authority of India’s 95th ‘Sundays on Cycle’ programme under the Fit India Movement.
The event brought together students, young athletes, senior citizens, Border Security Force personnel and residents from different parts of the city. Participants joined the cycling rally while also taking a collective pledge to support a healthier lifestyle and contribute towards keeping young people away from substance abuse.
The programme went beyond cycling, with organisers combining several forms of physical activity to make the morning more engaging for participants. Yoga sessions, Zumba workouts and traditional Punjabi Bhangra were organised alongside the cycle rally, giving the event a mix of modern fitness and Punjab’s cultural energy.
Former Member of Parliament Sushil Kumar Rinku attended the programme as chief guest. Former minister and MLA Manoranjan Kalia and K.D. Bhandari were among the special guests present on the occasion.
Several prominent sports personalities also joined the event to interact with young participants. Judo Olympian and Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award recipient Avtar Singh, international volleyball player Ram Lubhaya, former SAI chief table tennis coach Narender Kaur, former chief hockey coach Baljeet Kaur and Punjab Judo Association secretary Surinder Singh were among those present.
The sporting personalities encouraged young people to view physical activity as more than competition or recreation. They stressed that regular involvement in sports can provide discipline, confidence and a positive routine, while also giving youngsters a constructive alternative to harmful habits.
The event also marked the arrival in Jalandhar of an anti-drug awareness initiative that began from Ludhiana on October 4. Organisers said the campaign is travelling through different parts of Punjab to encourage people, particularly youngsters, to understand the consequences of drug abuse and adopt sports and fitness as part of everyday life.
The awareness journey is scheduled to conclude at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala on November 1, where the campaign’s final programme is planned.
Throughout Sunday’s event, the focus remained on making fitness accessible rather than treating it as something limited to professional athletes. Participants of different age groups joined the activities, reflecting the Fit India message of incorporating regular exercise into daily routines.
Organisers said initiatives such as Sundays on Cycle are intended to connect physical fitness with wider social awareness. In Punjab, the programme also carried a clear message encouraging young people to stay away from drugs and spend more time on sports grounds, cycling tracks and other healthy activities.
The programme concluded with participants being encouraged to follow the Fit India message “Fitness Ki Dose, Aadha Ghanta Roz”, promoting at least half an hour of physical activity every day.
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