Govt move will bring yoga at par with other sports: Mohagaonkar

 

 

 

INCLUSION of yogasana in Khelo India Youth Games 2021 is a boost for the sport as it will bring the century-old Indian art that lay thrust on having a perfect balance between physical and mental health at par with other sports, feels Anil Mohagaonkar. President of the Nagpur District Yoga Association Mohagaonkar has been running yoga coaching classes in the city since decades in two sessions and has produced many international and yoga champions. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the government has included yogasana in Khelo India Youth Games 2021 in a bid to develop it as a competitive sport. Rijiju said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that the government has also given recognition to National Yogasana Sports Federation (NYSF) for promotion and development of Yogasana in the country.

 

“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. Yogasana sport for both male and female categories have been included in Khelo India Youth Games, 2021,” he said. Mohagaonkar was of the view that government’s support will be crucial in development of the sport. “When the players will start getting all the government facilities, that will be among the best one can get, the players’ confidence will be high. They will be more focused and give their best. Nagpur has produced many international and national champions in the past and the present generation is also doing very well,” he said. Nagpur has a strong presence at national and state levels. “My younger brother Satish is Technical Director of the ongoing three-day online national yogasan meet. He is also Vice-President of Maharashtra State Yoga Association and is Technical Head of the State body.

 

 

“Myself and 25 other senior players from the city recently appeared for yoga judges’ examination conducted by NYSF. I have cleared it and hope many more have passed the same,” informed Mohagaonkar. With the government recognising the sport, Rijiju said NYSF will be 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. In December last year, the Sports Minister, along with Minister of AYUSH, had recognised yogasana as a competitive sport during an event, enabling the ancient practice to avail government funding. An International Yogasana Sports Federation was formed under the presidentship of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev with HR Nagendra as Secretary General in November 2019. (With inputs from PTI)