'It is only fair that...': Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya backs IOA’s proposal to include Yoga in Asian Games

NEW DELHI: The Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment Mansukh Mandaviya has welcomed the move by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha to propose the inclusion of Yoga in the Asian Games program.
Mandaviya expressed his support for this initiative, stating that it is only fair for Yoga, with its widespread popularity, to be recognized as a competitive sport and included in the Asian Games.
"It is only fair that, in keeping with its wide popularity, Yoga becomes a competitive sport and is in the Asian Games," Mandaviya said in an IOA release, as per ANI.
The IOA President PT Usha wrote to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Raja Randhir Singh on June 26, requesting consideration of the proposal to include Yoga as a sport in the Asian Games.
Mandaviya highlighted the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting Yoga globally and ensuring that June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day annually.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked hard to ensure that June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day each year. The discipline, which embraces mind and body, has gained in popularity around the world and is ready as a competitive sport with its own code of points and distinct events," he added.
Yoga, a discipline that harmonizes the mind and body, has gained immense popularity worldwide and is ready to be recognized as a competitive sport with its own scoring system and distinct events. India has been at the forefront of popularizing Yoga and has taken steps to establish it as a competitive sport by including it in the Khelo India Youth Games with great success.
Furthermore, Yogasana has been added as a competitive discipline in recent editions of the Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games since 2020.This move has contributed to the growth and recognition of Yoga as a competitive sport within the country.
It is also noteworthy that Asian Yoganasa, a recognized body by World Yogasana, has already written to the OCA seeking affiliation, with the aim of developing Yogasana as a competitive sport across the Asian continent.