Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Tejasvi Surya recently became the first Indian parliamentarian to complete the rigorous Ironman 70.3 endurance relay challenge in Goa, a triathlon event known for testing participants’ physical and mental limits. The Ironman 70.3, also known as the “Half Ironman,” involves a grueling 1.9 km swim, 90 km cycling leg, and a 21.1 km run. Surya, participating as part of “Team New India,” took on the 90 km cycling leg, joining civil servant Shreyas Hosur, who swam the initial 1.9 km, and entrepreneur Aniket Jain, who completed the half-marathon.
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Swami Vivekananda’s message for the youth was “What I want is muscles of iron, mind nerves of steel, inside which dwells a mind of the same material as that of which the thunderbolt is made.” – Shri @Tejasvi_Surya ji#IronManTejasviSurya pic.twitter.com/MqjLAhBwwQ
— Kapil Parmar (@KapilParmar) October 27, 2024
Reflecting on the achievement, Surya stated, “PM Narendra Modi-led government has given a significant amount of stress on sports and fitness,” highlighting the Fit India Movement’s role in promoting a culture of health and wellness across the country. “The Ironman 70.3 challenge is a platform that tests our endurance and pushes us to maintain good health and fitness consistently,” he continued. Surya stressed that the event serves as an inspiration for India’s youth to view fitness not just as a recreational activity but as an integral part of life. “More and more young people are inspired to take up sports and fitness as a career, and such events give them a platform to showcase their talent.”
Surya also shared the personal challenges he faced leading up to the event, noting, “It was physically quite challenging as I was coming off recovering from a fever and I was not at my full fitness level. That said, I took it up as a challenge and did my part for Team New India.” Emphasising the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, he urged young Indians to adopt daily fitness habits, whether by “taking a long walk, running, doing yoga, hitting the gym, or playing a sport.” He sees his participation as a way to lead by example, demonstrating that fitness can and should be a priority for all age groups.
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This year’s Ironman 70.3 event in Goa drew around 1,500 participants from over 30 countries, underscoring its international appeal and competitive atmosphere. The event, which was flagged off by Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, marks a significant return to form since its initial launch in 2019, after two years of pandemic-related cancellations.
