Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Moodbidri, Oct 9: Former minister K Abhayachandra Jain, has been cycling 15 kilometres every day and has thus become a role model for the senior citizens.

Jain was a legislator for about 25 years and was sports minister in the Siddaramaiah-led state ministry. Even when in power, he used to play shuttle badminton and basketball every day. Jain (71) now has some leisure time and hence has made it a habit to use bicycle for exercising his body.

When a new bicycle showroom was opened here on Wednesday, Jain became the first customer to buy a bicycle costing Rs 25,000. He rode it to his home from the showroom.

Every day, Jain leaves his house at Jain Pete at 6 am in his bicycle, covers Alangaru, Swarajya Maidan, and Ring Road, before returning home through Mahaveer College Road.

Jain says that it is important to be involved with sports to maintain physical and mental strength. He said he is involved with shuttle badminton, Kabaddi and basketball but his first preference would be cycling. "I have heavy driving licence. Therefore when I have time, I ride bullet motorbike, car, bus etc to keep myself active," he says.