After accepting the fitness challenge given by the Indian Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli has challenged another three people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, teammate and former captain MS Dhoni and wife Anushka Sharma, to follow his lead.
Keeping in line with his drive towards a fitter nation, the Indian PM Narendra Modi was the first to respond to the challenge in the affirmative, saying, “Challenge accepted, Virat! I will be sharing my own #FitnessChallenge video soon. @imVkohli #HumFitTohIndiaFit”
Challenge accepted, Virat! I will be sharing my own #FitnessChallenge video soon. @imVkohli #HumFitTohIndiaFit https://t.co/qdc1JabCYb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2018
PM Modi had started the Fit India movement through his Mann Ki Baat programme. Since then he has been consistently urging people to focus on fitness and encouraging their participation.
The Sports Minister, Rathore, who is also one of India’s first individual Olympic medallists, had shared a video of himself on social media doing pushups and had asked people to take a video of their “fitness mantra” and share it in a bid to make people aware of the necessity of fitness. Along with Kohli, Rathore had also challenged actor Hrithik Roshan and badminton ace Saina Nehwal to join in.
Kohli who is known for his love for staying fit accepted the challenge and proceeded to do his favorite exercise – the spider planks as he joined the fitness movement.
I have accepted the #FitnessChallenge by @ra_THORe sir. Now I would like to challenge my wife @AnushkaSharma , our PM @narendramodi ji and @msdhoni Bhai for the same. 😀 #HumFitTohIndiaFit #ComeOutAndPlay pic.twitter.com/e9BAToE6bg
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 23, 2018
The fitness challenge – #HumFitTohIndiaFit – was started by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Tuesday. Mr. Rathore, an Olympic medalist, tweeted a video doing push-ups and urged people to shoot a video of their “fitness mantra” and share it.
Anushka took no time to join hubby, Kohli in the fitness challenge. She posted a video of her lifting weights. She further nominated Varun Dhawan and Dipika Pallikal, wife of Dinesh Karthik, who is a squash player.
Here’s what she posted:
I accept your challenge @imVKohli. Here’s my video for the #HumFitTohIndiaFit #FitnessChallenge. I’d like to nominate my friends, @DipikaPallikal and @Varun_dvn Great initiative @Ra_THORe sir! #ComeOutAndPlay pic.twitter.com/SmdmkArT6U
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) May 24, 2018
Hrithik Roshan replied to Rajyavardhan Rathore with a video of him riding a bicycle and said that this was how he traveled to work every day. “This initiative makes me so proud! Bravo. #HumFitTohIndiaFit #FitnessChallenge this is how I commute to my office every day. Sitting static in a car is such a waste. Walk, cycle, jog, feel the earth, feel India get FIT!” tweeted Hrithik.
This initiative makes me so proud ! Bravo @Ra_THORe #HumFitTohIndiaFit #FitnessChallenge this is how I commute to my office everyday. sitting static in a car is such a waste. Walk, cycle, jog, feel the earth, feel India 🇮🇳 get FIT! pic.twitter.com/twoI1vna9c
— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) May 22, 2018
The campaign earned praise from tennis champion Sania Mirza, who tweeted, “When was the last time we saw a Minister do this??? Coolest leading by example .. congratulations on this #FitnessChallenge Sir.. here’s to a brighter and healthier India ..”
When was the last time we saw a Minister do this??? Coolest 😎 leading by example .. congratulations on this #FitnessChallenge Sir.. here’s to a brighter and healthier India .. https://t.co/lSRCQqsYbb
— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) May 23, 2018