Sport

Yogasana Now A Competitive Sport; To Be Included In Khelo India Games

STAY HEALTHY: On the eve of International Day of Yoga, volunteers practice different 'asanas' at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. OB Photograph.

New Delhi: Yogasana has been recognised by the government as a competitive sport.

Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of AYUSH (Ayurveda Yoga and Naturopathy Unani Sidda Homoeopathy) Shripad Yesso Naik on Thursday formally announced the ‘promotion’ of yogasana.

“Yogasana has been a competitive sport for a long time. But it has to be recognised by the Government of India so that it becomes an official and recognised competitive sport,” Rijiju said.

“Today is a big day, we are launching it formally as a competitive sport and I am sure it will go a long way,” he added.

Yogasana will now be included in Khelo India Games.

“It’s popularity will no doubt increase in India and we will include it in the Khelo India School and University Games,” Rijiju informed, adding that yogasana will henceforth be eligible for government funding.

The National Individual Yogasana Sport Championship will be organised in February 2021, followed by meets at the district, state, national levels, and the World Championships.

A total of 51 medals has been proposed in the new sport, across four events and seven categories.

Events proposed include traditional yogasana, artistic yogasana (single and pair) , rhythmic yogasana (pair, free flow/group yogasana), individual all round-championship and team championship.