Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on October 2 said Yogasana, which has its roots in India’s ancient traditions, could develop into a major international sporting discipline in the coming years.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 38th National Yogasana Championship at the Khuman Lampak Main Indoor Stadium in Imphal, Khemchand urged Indian Yogasana athletes to prepare themselves both mentally and physically to compete at the international level.
“Yogasana, rooted in India’s ancient tradition, has gained a global presence and in the coming years, Yogasana has the potential to gain recognition as a major international sporting discipline,” the chief minister said.
The championship is being held from October 2 to 4 and will also serve as a selection trial for India’s team for the 12th World Yogasana Championship, scheduled to take place in Thailand in 2027. Athletes from different parts of the country are taking part in the event.
Drawing a comparison with Sanskrit, Khemchand said the ancient Indian language has gained interest outside India, including among academics and in the technology sector, because of its precision and distinctive vocabulary.
He said Yoga has also gained international recognition and recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative at the United Nations in 2014, which led to the establishment of the International Day of Yoga.
Khemchand said he had been involved in promoting Yoga at the grassroots level since 2014 and recalled taking part in programmes aimed at spreading awareness about its benefits for physical and mental well-being.
The chief minister also asked the visiting athletes to take a message of peace from Manipur back to their respective states.
He urged them to share that Manipur has become peaceful and help spread a positive message about the state.