Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Tuesday that India will advocate for the inclusion of Yogasana in the Olympic Games as the country prepares its bid to host the 2036 Olympics. His remarks came ahead of the inaugural World Yogasana Championship, scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad from June 4 to June 8.
First World Yogasana Championship
The championship will feature 529 athletes from over 60 countries, including 114 participants from India. The Indian contingent was selected through trials and is currently undergoing training at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.
Mandaviya stated, "Yogasana will be among the traditional sports in the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. We are bidding to host the Olympic Games in 2036, and when that happens, our sport should be on the roster. Efforts are being made by both the government of India and the national federation, Yogasana Bharat, to ensure that Yoga becomes an Olympic sport by that time."
Pathway to Olympic Inclusion
Mandaviya explained the procedure: "To become an international federation, you need 75 countries as signatories. After that, a plea can be made to the International Olympic Committee for a sport's inclusion in the Olympics."
World Yogasana Vice President Udit Sheth expressed the federation's vision: "We want Yogasana to first become a demonstration sport at the 2032 Olympics. Then, we aim to make it a medal event in 2036, regardless of whether the Games are held in Ahmedabad or elsewhere."
Competition Details
The tournament will include 12 events across six age groups for both men and women, ranging from ages 10 to 55 years. Notably, teams from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will not participate.
World Yogasana Secretary General Jaideep Arya noted that participation could have been higher, but some countries withdrew due to the military conflict in the Gulf region. "Three to four countries had to withdraw because of the war, but overall participation is quite good. Nepal and Sri Lanka have the biggest contingents after India, and we have participation from countries like the Netherlands, Oman, Japan, Kenya, and Mauritius," Arya told reporters.
Judging and Format
Arya clarified that while yoga is generally seen as a wellness activity, Yogasana is based on physical postures that can be judged competitively. "Yoga is a wellness technique, but Yogasana is a physical posture that can be judged. We have divided the competition into artistic and rhythmic categories, with a points system implemented by nine judges around the field of play."
Athletes will be evaluated on factors such as alignment, symmetry, face direction, and muscle stability while performing asanas.
Documentary Project
Sheth mentioned that the championship will not be broadcast live on television. Instead, it will be used for a documentary project. "Yogasana has the potential to become India's greatest sporting contribution to the world, and that's where we are heading. This is more than a championship; it is the beginning of a global sporting movement," he said.
