{"id":10554,"date":"2025-11-01T13:23:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-01T07:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=10554"},"modified":"2025-11-01T13:23:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-01T07:53:51","slug":"union-mos-for-youth-affairs-sports-smt-raksha-nikhil-khadse-highlights-the-role-of-pune-grand-tour-2026-in-advancing-sports-tourism-and-fit-india-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=10554","title":{"rendered":"Union MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse Highlights the Role of \u2018Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019 in Advancing Sports Tourism and Fit India Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Union MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse Highlights the Role of \u2018Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019 in Advancing Sports Tourism and Fit India Movement<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


\nMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Unveils Logo and Jersey of \u2018Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
Posted On: 29 OCT 2025 6:23PM by PIB Delhi<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The logo and jersey of the historic \u2018Bajaj Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019, India\u2019s first-ever international UCI 2.2 Stage Cycling Race, were officially unveiled today at The Westin Hotel, Pune. The event, jointly organised by the Government of Maharashtra, the Pune District Administration, and the Cycling Federation of India, celebrates the city\u2019s cultural, historical, and sporting heritage.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In her address on the occasion, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, said that the event aligns with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi\u2019s vision of hosting the Olympic Games in 2036, and reflects the nation\u2019s growing commitment to sports-<\/strong><\/span>
\nled development and sports tourism.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, initiatives like Sundays on Cycle, being held every week at over 5,000 locations with the participation of nearly 5 lakh cyclists, are transforming \u2018Fit India\u2019 into a nationwide people\u2019s movement,\u201d she said.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Smt. Khadse also appreciated the efforts of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya for spearheading and expanding the \u2018Sundays on Cycle\u2019 movement across the country, inspiring people from all walks of life to adopt cycling as a way of fitness, sustainability, and community bonding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pune Grand Tour 2026 stands as a model of how sports can drive both tourism and wellness. Sports science is also emerging as a vital field for athlete performance enhancement, and such events will further strengthen our sporting ecosystem,\u201d she added.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis stated that the Pune Grand Tour will highlight Pune\u2019s historic, cultural, religious, and tourism landmarks, boosting both domestic and international tourism while revitalising the city\u2019s traditional identity as the \u201cCity of Cycles.\u201d He said the event will contribute to Maharashtra\u2019s economy, promote healthy living, and help tackle pollution.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPune has always been the home of cycling, and this event will further strengthen that legacy. The \u2018Pune Grand Tour\u2019 will put the city on the global map of professional cycling, inspiring fitness and environmental awareness across India,\u201d the Chief Minister said.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Pune Shri Ajit Pawar praised the initiative, calling it a major milestone for Maharashtra. \u201cThis grand challenge, covering over 200 villages through the Sahyadri ranges, is inspired by the Tour de France. It is not just a sporting event but a festival of health, employment, tourism, and development,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He commended the Pune District Administration, led by District Collector Shri Jitendra Dudi, for conceptualising and executing the event in record time. He also emphasised the need for ensuring world-class road infrastructure along the race route.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Minister of State for Urban Development, Smt. Madhuri Misal, Asian Cycling Confederation President Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, Cycling Federation of India Secretary General Dato Maninder Pal Singh, and former Asian Cycling Confederation Secretary General Onkar Singh were also present.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pune Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar presented the concept and detailed preparations for the event.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Logo, Jersey, and Mascot Unveiled<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The dignitaries unveiled the official logo and jersey of Pune Grand Tour 2026. The mascot, named Indu, is inspired by the endangered Indian Giant Squirrel found in the forests of Bhimashankar, symbolising agility, resilience, and ecological balance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Chief Minister Shri Fadnavis also felicitated veteran 77-year-old cyclist Smt. Nirupama Bhave, along with Preeti Mhaske, Praniti Soman (Ahmednagar), Bharat Sonawane (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar), Akash Mhetre (Jalgaon), and Pooja Danole (Solapur) for their achievements in cycling.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prominent attendees included MLAs Amit Gorakhe, Rahul Kul, Siddharth Shirole, Babaji Kale, and Shankar Mandekar, along with senior officials Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, PCMC Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Chandrakant Pulkundwar, Commissioner of Sports and Youth Services Smt. Sheetal Teli-Ugale, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, and CEO Zilla Parishad Gajanan Patil.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Pune Grand Tour 2026 is presented by Bajaj and supported by Serum Institute of India, Chitale Bandhu, and Panchshil Group.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Union MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse Highlights the Role of \u2018Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019 in Advancing Sports Tourism and Fit India Movement Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Unveils Logo and Jersey of \u2018Pune Grand Tour 2026\u2019 Posted On: 29 OCT 2025 6:23PM by PIB Delhi The logo and jersey of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10554"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10556,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10554\/revisions\/10556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}