NE SPORTS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, APR 3
Poojaben Ghanshyambhai Patel made Gujarat proud by winning the title in Senior Girl’s Category at India’s first National Online Yogasana Championship held recently, a release said.
To promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to popularize Yogasana and to make Yogasana as a sport, the National Yogasana Sports Federation organized the first National Online Yogasana Championship across 30 States.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Youth Affairs Sports, Government of India said, “The Government, after deliberations at length and taking into account the relevant factors, including developing Yogasana as a competitive sport, has recognized the National Yogasana Sports Federation (NYSF) as a National Sports Federation for the promotion and development of Yogasana as a competitive sport in the country.”
“Yogasana sport for both male and female categories have been included in Khelo India Youth Games, 2021. The Government recognition makes NYSF eligible for financial assistance for conduct of national championships in all the categories, viz. Senior, Junior and Sub-junior and participation in international sporting events. Upon Government recognition, it is incumbent on the NYSF, being primarily responsible for promotion and development of Yogasana, to hold Annual Championships and ensure participation of Indian sportspersons and teams in international sports events of Yogasana,” he added.
Mohammed Firoz Shiek of Karnataka finished first while P Jeevanathan of Tamil Nadu and Pratik Balubhai Mewada of Gujarat were second and third, respectively, in the senior boy’s category.
In the senior girl’s category, Poojaben Ghanshyambhai Patel of Gujarat won the title while Sapna Chhotelal Pal of Madhya Pradesh and Ananya Biswas of West Bengal were second and third, respectively.
Sandip Pradhan, Director General, Sports Authority of India, said, “Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and efforts have resulted in giving Yogasana the much needed international attention and recognition. Today the entire world proudly celebrates June 21 as the International Yogasana Day. Since the inception of International Yogasana Day, the growth prospect for Yogasana has been immense. Recently Yogasana has been formally recognized as a competitive sport by the Sports Ministry, paving the way for national, state and university level championships to be organised in the country. I congratulate all the participants – athletes, winners and officials of India’s first National Online Yogasana Championship for the dedicated efforts to bring Yogasana as a competitive sport to the forefront. I am confident that NYSF will play a vital role in supporting India’s mission of nurturing world class Yogasana athletes in near future.”
Announcing the winners, Dr I.V Basavaraddi, President, NYSF said, “The sport of Yogasana will enable enhancing the physical fitness and wellbeing of the youth and new generation of India and the world. Improving population levels of physical activity through sports participation is a priority and wider promotion of Yogasana will enable in achieving the goal. NYSF aims to encourage athletes to participate in as many competitions as possible as well as organizing Yogasana competitions using the NYSF rules, scoring system, and other NYSF materials. This National Championship has brough India into the forefront of the development of the Sport of Yogasana.”
Dr. Jaideep Arya, Secretary General, NYSF said, “Yogasana aims to maintain and improve our physical skills. It transforms our physical state and is, entertaining. The formats that have been introduced will make the Asanas entertaining to view and hence expand the fan and spectator base for Yogasana as a sport. Being a cost effective sport to train, participate and organised is enabling a rapid expansion across the country. The National Championship has received huge response from across the 30 States of the countryand has paved way for India’s prestigious mission of making Yogasana a part of the Olympic Games.”
The Federation is on the mission to gain an athlete-base across 600 districts building the brand value of more than 1000 Crore in the next 5 years.
