- Maharashtra was crowned as the overall champion with 16 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and four bronze.
- Tamil Nadu was second in the medal tally with two golds and one silver, while Pondicherry bagged one gold
- Gujarat Legislative Assembly approves the bill granting private university status to TransStadia Sports University
NE SPORTS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, MARCH 31
Maharashtra emerged on the top with 16 medals, including 7 golds, at the first-ever Yogasana Senior National Championships that was held at Ahmedabad on March 30 and 31. The event’s organization is a significant step towards including Yoga as a part of the prestigious Olympics.
Organised by the National Yogasana Sports Federation (NYSF) and Gujarat State Yogasana Association (GYSA) in association with the government of Gujarat, the Yogasana Senior National Championships at Eka Arena by TransStadia in Ahmedabad saw as many as 169 Yogasana athletes from 14 states and union territories displaying their Yogasana skills.
Maharashtra was crowned as the overall champion with 16 medals, including seven gold, five silver, and four bronze. Tamil Nadu was second in the medal tally with two golds and one silver, while Pondicherry bagged one gold. In all, 66 medals were awarded to the athletes who showcased their Yogasana skills in different competitive events.
“Yogasana is deeply embedded in the Indian culture. It is a form of meditation in ashrams and becomes a sport in a stadium. It is one of the rare sports that is a perfect combination of meditation and fitness. We should be proud that Yoga is not just practised in India, but has become popular across the globe due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Gujarat government is committed to promoting Yogasana as a sport in a big way and will ensure more and more Yogasana tournaments are organised in the state in the coming times,” Gujarat Sports Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the chief guest at the closing ceremony, said.
“I am also happy to announce that just a few hours earlier, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly has approved the bill granting private university status to TransStadia Sports University. This is a special day for sportspersons of Ahmedabad and Gujarat,” he said.
In his address, NYSF President Udit Sheth expressed sincere gratitude to the government of Gujarat for its wholehearted support in hosting the Yogasana Championships.
“We are overjoyed by the response to the Yogasana Senior National Championships in Ahmedabad. We are confident that the event has more than served its purpose of showcasing Yogasana as a competitive sport and attracting more athletes to India’s heritage sports. At NYSF, we are committed to working to promote Yogasana as a sport within the country and outside,” said Sheth.
“We congratulate the medal winners and other athletes for their excellent performances that have made the Yogasana Senior National Championships a landmark event. All of us look forward to seeing them in action very soon. Their enthusiasm and the positive feedback we have received from all stakeholders has filled us with a new drive and energy to take Yogasana as a sport to new heights,” said Dr. Jaideep Arya, Secretary-General, NYSF.
The NYSF is focusing on creating the infrastructure to give a push to Yogasana as a sport in the country. It is working on creating tournaments at district, state, and national levels to ensure adequate opportunities for aspiring athletes. NYSF aims to develop an athlete base across 600 districts and build a brand value of over Rs. 1,000 crore in five years.
“We believe Yogasana as a sport has the potential to become a global sport and emerge as a multi-billion dollar industry in a few years. We are confident that Yogasana will be a part of the Olympics, which is our dream and ultimate goal,” added Sheth.
