Hoshiarpur: Balraj Singh Chauhan completes 1.50 lakh km on bicycle

Hoshiarpur, March 6

A brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Mission of the Hoshiarpur Municipal Corporation and international cyclist, Balraj Singh Chauhan, has completed 1.5 lakh km on bicycle, setting a milestone. Chauhan cycles 70 to 100 km every day to spread the message of plastic-free clean India, blood donation, environmental protection and planting trees.

Addressing a press conference here, Chauhan said he started his cycling journey in 2014 with an ordinary bicycle. Chauhan said he started recording his cycling activities on the Strava app in 2016.

He said for some reason, a doctor refrained him from walking due to a knee problem. During that period, he also suffered from depression, but with his determination, he started cycling again and overcame both the problems.

Chauhan said cycling had now become a passion. He said it was through cycling that he created his own identity in the country and abroad. He also participated in events held in the country and abroad. Chauhan said after registering a record of cycling 1 lakh km in the India Book of Records, he won medals by participating in London-Edinburgh-London 1,540 km event in the UK and Paris-Brest-Paris 1,219 km event in France.

Besides, he also completed 1,460 km distance from India Gate Delhi to Gateway of India Mumbai and 1,480 km from Yamuna Bridge Delhi to Howrah Bridge Kolkata.

Chauhan said till now, he had won the title of Super Randonneur (SR) 11 times, which was achieved once in a cycling year by riding a BRM of 200, 300, 400 and 600 km. In response to a question, Chauhan said he had not received any help from the government. He said cycling was an expensive sport and there was no sponsor for it. So, money was spent on cycling by him on his own.

Speaking on the occasion, Jalandhar Hawk Riders Club president Rohit Sharma said Balraj Chauhan had achieved this position with hard work, dedication and honesty. Megha Jain, a woman cyclist, said Chauhan inspired every cyclist. Munir Nazar also praised Chauhan’s achievements.

NRIs from Canada, including Paramjit Singh Dhillon, Balbir Singh Dhillon, Malkit Singh Waraich, Harjeet Singh Gill, Jaspreet Singh Ghatura, Dinesh Thakur Garhdiwala, Raman Verma, Gavi Saini, Ramandeep Singh Boparai, Anand Sanjay and Karan Bhalla, were also present at the conference.