PM's fitness challenge to Kumaraswamy

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday issued a fitness challenge to Karnataka chief minister, the JD(S)'s HD Kumaraswamy, whom he and his party bitterly battled not long ago.

Kumaraswamy responded by saying he was "more concerned" about the fitness and development of Karnataka.

About three weeks ago, Modi accepted a similar challenge from cricket captain Virat Kohli, and on Wednesday, even as he posted a video of part of his fitness routine, he issued his such a challenge to Kumaraswamy, as well as TT champ Manika Batra and all IPS officers "especially those above 40".

The part of his fitness routine that Modi filmed and posted on Twitter involves walking on a track inspired by nature's five elements.

"Here are moments from my morning exercises. Apart from Yoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature - Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing and rejuvenating. I also practice breathing exercises," tweeted the PM.

It all started on May 22 with Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore urging the country to take up a fitness challenge as part of the '#HumFitTohIndiaFit' campaign.

Kohli accepted the challenge and posted a fitness video of his own, in which he's seen performing an exercise for the lower abdomen, one he called his "favourite core workout". In turn, he challenged his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, cricket icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni and PM Modi. See P5