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Addressing participants from various countries via video, Modi said the championship signalled a new phase for Yoga by granting yogasana recognition as a competitive sport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Reuters/File Image)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, expressing confidence that yogasana would eventually be included in major international sporting events, including the Olympics.
Addressing participants and delegates from various countries via video conferencing, on the eve of his visit to Surat and the Union Territory of Daman, Modi said the championship signalled a new phase for Yoga by granting yogasana recognition as a competitive sport.
“Every living tradition enters new phases with time. This World Championship of Yogasana Sports marks the beginning of such a new phase. Through this championship, yogasana will gain recognition as a competitive sport. I am confident that in the future, yogasana will secure its place in international sporting events, whether in the Olympics or other multi-sport competitions,” the Prime Minister said.
He noted that hosting the championship in Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City, was a matter of national pride, and pointed out that the event was being held just ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, whose main celebrations will take place in Kolkata.
Modi said the arrival of the World Yogasana Championship ahead of World Yoga Day had brought a “double dose” of health and wellness.
Recalling India’s proposal at the United Nations nearly a decade ago to observe International Yoga Day, he said the aim was to link the ancient Indian tradition with the health and well-being of people across the world.
“At that time, 190 countries supported India’s proposal. Today, millions of people have made Yoga a part of their daily routine. Meditation and pranayama are becoming integral to their lifestyles,” he said.
The Prime Minister also underlined the economic and employment potential of Yogasana sports, noting that every major sport creates an ecosystem that generates opportunities.
“As Yogasana sports expand, new possibilities will also grow. This will open career opportunities for athletes, as well as for trainers, sports scientists, researchers and event managers,” Modi said.
Referring to this year’s International Yoga Day theme, ‘Yoga for Healthy Ageing’, he said Yoga provides an affordable and effective way to maintain long-term health.
He added that daily Yoga practice can help keep diseases at bay, and urged participants to act as ambassadors of the Centre’s ‘Yoga Three Sixty Five’ campaign in their respective countries, spreading awareness about Yoga worldwide.
“No matter who wins this competition, by being part of this historic chapter, you are already champions,” Modi told the athletes before formally declaring the first World Yogasana Championship 2026 open.
Modi is scheduled to visit Surat and the UT of Daman on Friday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for various development projects.
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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