Mumbai, February 17 Hours after arriving in Mumbai, French President Emmanuel Macron surprised morning joggers by jogging along Mumbai's iconic Marine Drive.
Wearing a navy blue athletic T-shirt, black shorts, and running shoes, he almost blended in with the morning crowd, while security personnel followed at a discreet distance.
In a refreshing start to his India visit, just before official meetings and a tight schedule, the French President was seen jogging at a brisk pace.
A senior police official said Macron stepped out for the morning jog, accompanied by his security personnel, after 10:30 am.
There was adequate police presence on his jogging route.
Starting from the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel near the Gateway of India, the French President went to Marine Drive near Coastal Road. He passed through Maharshi Karve Marg near Churchgate station, Oval Ground, and Regal Chowk before returning to the hotel, the official said.
Videos of his exercise routine went viral after onlookers captured it on their smartphones.
This was not the first time Macron started an official visit with a "healthy start."
In December last year, Macron, who was on a state visit to China, was filmed jogging in Chengdu, in Southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The French President and First Lady Brigitte Macron, who arrived in Mumbai shortly after midnight on Tuesday, also paid floral tributes to those killed in the November 2008 terror attack at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south Mumbai.
As Macron kicked off the day with a jog at the Marine Drive promenade, Mumbai police also maintained tight security in the area.
President Macron is on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India, as well as hold a bilateral summit with the latter in Mumbai.
This is President Macron's fourth visit to India and his first visit to Mumbai.