Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has announced that Yogasana will be included as an indigenous sport when India hosts the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. The minister made the declaration during the launch of the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in New Delhi.
“When the Commonwealth Games are organised in India in 2030, Yogasana will also be given a place in it as an indigenous sport,” Mandaviya said while addressing reporters on Tuesday.
The move is part of India’s larger effort to promote traditional sports globally as the country prepares to host the centenary edition of the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad. Reports suggest the sports ministry is also considering the inclusion of indigenous disciplines such as Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Mallakhamb in the Games programme.
India has simultaneously intensified efforts to establish Yogasana as a globally recognised competitive sport. The first-ever World Yogasana Championship is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad from June 4 to 8, featuring over 500 athletes from more than 60 countries.
Mandaviya also indicated that India aims to push for Yogasana’s inclusion in future Olympic Games, especially with the country targeting a bid to host the 2036 Olympics. According to the minister, both the government and Yogasana Bharat are working to secure international recognition for the discipline.
Yogasana competitions are judged on parameters such as alignment, balance, symmetry, muscle stability and artistic execution, combining traditional yoga practices with modern sporting standards. Organisers believe the discipline has the potential to emerge as one of India’s biggest sporting exports globally.
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