New Delhi, February 22 – Highlighting India's rapid progress towards becoming a sporting powerhouse, iconic athletes Rupinder Pal Singh and Rohit Tokas expressed their deep appreciation for the country's successful bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030, after a 20-year gap.
Rupinder Pal Singh, a member of the Indian hockey team that won a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020, stated that the strong push by the Indian Government, along with the collective efforts of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and National Sports Federations (NSFs), have enabled the nation to secure the hosting rights for this multi-discipline event. He believes this will be a key factor in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of hosting the Summer Olympics in 2036.
"The Commonwealth Games coming to India after 20 years is a significant development for all Indian athletes. This success is a result of the combined efforts of the Modi government, the Sports Ministry, the IOA, and national federations. I, myself, had not made my international debut when India hosted the CWG in 2010, and for players like me, the opportunity to compete and win medals in front of a home crowd is the most memorable experience. I am confident that we will achieve similar success in 2030," Rupinder Pal Singh told SAI Media after leading a group of cyclists during the Fit India Sundays initiative at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
"It is also great news for all Indian sportspersons that hockey and shooting will be part of the Commonwealth Games again in 2030. This will further motivate our athletes," he added.
The 62nd edition of the cycling movement, organized in collaboration with the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to coincide with their 75th anniversary, took place at over 1000 locations across the country.
Rupinder was joined by Ashok Kumar Singh (IAS), Director General, ESIC, and Mayank Srivastava (IPS), Deputy Director General, Khelo India, along with Fit India champions Tanvee Tutlani and Atul Jindal.
Highlighting the benefits of an active lifestyle, Rupinder said, "I was delighted to see over 500 people cycling with me today at the IG Stadium. The Fit India movement's primary objective is to encourage citizens to dedicate at least 30 minutes to 1 hour to their personal fitness, which is crucial given the rising cases of lifestyle-related diseases. I urge everyone to make fitness a part of their daily routine and engage in some form of physical activity."
Rohit Tokas, who won a bronze medal in boxing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, stated that hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games will provide a significant boost to the development of sports infrastructure and encourage more young people to pursue sports as a career.
"It's very motivating for us athletes that the Commonwealth Games are coming to India four years later. Playing in front of a home crowd and having everyone cheer for you is a unique experience. Boxers have consistently performed well in the Commonwealth Games, and I am confident that we will achieve even better results in Gujarat in 2030. Also, hosting a major event like this will lead to further development of sports infrastructure, as we saw during the Delhi 2010 edition," Rohit Tokas told SAI Media.
"Participating in the Fit India Sundays on Cycle has been a fantastic experience for me, especially the atmosphere and the energy at the stadium, with so many people participating in yoga, Zumba, and rope skipping. I would like to encourage everyone to follow the athletes' discipline and make fitness a part of their daily lives. If they can't go out, they can do yoga or Zumba at home," he added.
Initiated by Dr. Mandaviya in December 2024, Fit India Sundays on Cycle promotes fitness, environmental awareness, and sustainable mobility. The initiative has evolved into a nationwide movement, with over 25 lakh citizens participating in over 2 lakh locations.
Fit India Sundays on Cycle is organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Yogasana Bharat, Raahgiri Foundation, MY Bikes, Ropeskipping team, and MY Bharat. The cycling drive is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, including SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs).