India's Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter to announce that the Sports Ministry formally recognised yogasana as a competitive sport and will enable the ancient practice to avail government funding.
Kiren Rijiju along with Minister of AYUSH (Ayurveda Yoga and Naturopathy Unani Sidda Homoeopathy) Shripad Yesso Naik formally promoted yogasana during an event and this move was made to encourage yoga, spread awareness about its benefits and help improve peoples physical and mental wellbeing.
"Hon'ble PM Shri @NarendraModi Ji’s vision to popularise Yoga and to make Yogasana as sport is fulfilled today. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has officially recognized Yogasana as a competitive sport. As YOGA is India's gift to the world, YOGASANA is gift to Sports World," Kiren Rijiju wrote on Twitter.
Under the presidentship of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, an International Yogasana Sports Federation was formed. DR HR Nagendra was named the secretary-general in November last year.
A National Yogasana Sports Federation of India (NYSFI) was also established for preservation and development of yoga as a competitive sport. It was recognised by the sports ministry as a National Sports Federation (NSF) last month.
The event will see 51 medals in four events and seven categories. Events proposed include traditional yogasana, artistic yogasana (single and pair) , rhythmic yogasana (pair, free flow/group yogasan), individual all round-championship and team championship.
A pilot championship - National Individual Yogasana Sport Championship - has also been proposed to be held in February 2021, followed by district, state, national and World Championships. The two ministries have also developed an automated scoring system for competitions.
