Thane: The multi-level bicycle race HindAyan left for Mumbai from Thane on Saturday. On Sunday, it will progress to Pune on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary.
The event has been organised to promote cycling culture in India. Fifty participants had reached Thane on Feb 16 after traversing Delhi (where the rally originated on Feb 5), Agra, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur and Gandhinagar.
TMC deputy commissioner of sports Minal Palande flagged off the cycling race by wishing the contestants good luck. | FPJ
In Thane, the rally was flagged off by sports officer and former ace kabaddi player Minal Palande in the presence of Deputy Municipal Commissioner Anagha Kadam, officials of We Cycle Lovers Foundation and students of Kajuwadi, Saraswati Education and Creative schools. On Saturday, citizens of Thane and Mumbai also participated in a joy ride.
Race organiser Vishnudas Chapke, who is also the first Indian cyclist to circumnavigate the globe on two wheels, said, “The rally is being backed by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare as well as Youth Programmes and Sports of the Central government. As there is no long-distance cycling race in India at present, Olympians, national teams, the police and the military have to travel abroad to compete in such events.”
'HindAyan' organised to promote cycling culture
The 'Hind Ayaan' event is organized to promote cycling culture, as well as to provide an opportunity for Indian cycling teams to practice in the country. HindAyan, a multi-level cycling race, started from the National War Memorial in Delhi on February 5.
The 50 participants reached Thane on February 16 via Delhi-Agra-Jaipur-Bhilwara-Udaipur-Gandhinagar.
On Saturday, February 18 the race started from Thane to Mumbai. In this journey, cyclists from Thane, Mumbai participated in the joy ride from TMC to BMC.
'HindAyan' is a team of 50 cyclists. The cyclists, who arrived in Thane, visited schools and heritage buildings on Friday (February 17). Cyclists from 'We Cycle Lovers Foundation' and 'Swatva Foundation' also participated.
"It has been approved by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare as well as Youth Programs and Sports of the Central Government. Army and Navy personnel have been sent by the Ministry of Defense. Currently, there is no long-distance cycling race in India. Therefore, cyclists from Olympic teams, national cycling teams, the police and the military have to travel abroad to compete in long-distance cycling. Hence, to promote the cycling culture and give the country's cycling teams an opportunity to practice, the annual multi-level cycling race 'Hind Ayaan' has been organized," said race organizer and first Indian cyclist to circumnavigate the globe, visiting 35 countries across five continents- Vishnudas Chapke.
After travelling from Thane to Mumbai, the race will conclude in Pune on February 19 on the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
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