First All-women Bicycle Rally From Baramulla Receives Overwhelming Response

In a first for Kashmir, an all-women bicycle rally was held from Baramulla to Kaman Post in J&K, on Sunday. It was received with an overwhelming response.

There were around 82 entries from all over the country. Over 50 girls came from the district. This was the first-ever bike rally at the venue covering a distance of 65 km.

An all-women bicycle rally organized from Baramulla to Kaman Post in J&K, earlier today

Received an overwhelming response, about 82 entries from across the country, over 50 girls from district. Some, in fact, fought their families to be here: Lt Gen DP Pandey, GoC Chinar Corps pic.twitter.com/HRn4tuKio5

— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2021

It started at Shawkat Ali Stadium in Baramulla and finished at Kaman Post in Uri. Lieutenant General DP Pandey said, "We had received a request from the women of Kashmir to organize a cycle rally only for women."

Actor Milind Soman and wife Ankita Konwar flagged off the event and also participated in it. Soman said "I would like to thank the Indian Army for this initiative. The entire journey starting from Baramulla to Kaman Post was really beautiful."

"More events like this should be organized in the future because sports can bring a healthy lifestyle to a person's life," he added. Before leaving for the event he had tweeted, Its going to be fun to flag off the women’s cycling rally in Baramulla on the 12th of September.  Pedal on ladies… See you there!"

Its going to be fun to flag off the women’s cycling rally in Baramulla on the 12th of September with @5Earthy 😀
Pedal on ladies…
See you there !#ridekashmir pic.twitter.com/tQ92nDo8ba

— Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) September 7, 2021

Zobia, a resident of Lal Bazaar,  secured the first position in the rally. She told ANI, "I came to know about the event on Saturday only and I didn't even have prior experience of cycling but I still came and stood first."

In other such events

Earlier in March this year during the second edition of the Uttarakhand women’s bike rally around 200 women from all walks of life participated.

In January this year the Border Security Force (BSF) participated in the birth centenary celebrations of Mujibur Rehman by taking part in a a bicycle rally from West Bengal to Mizoram along the Indian border with Bangladesh. Thirteen cyclists covered 4,097 km in 66 days.