PM Modi Inaugurates First World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad
PM Says Yogasana Can Become an Olympic Sport, Calls Yoga India's Timeless Gift to Humanity
- PM Modi inaugurates first World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad
- Says Yogasana deserves recognition as a competitive global sport
- Expresses confidence in Yogasana’s future inclusion in Olympics
- Urges athletes to become global ambassadors of Yoga 365 campaign
GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 4th June: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the first-ever World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad through a video message, describing the event as a historic milestone in the global sporting journey of yoga and expressing confidence that Yogasana will one day find a place in the Olympic Games.
Addressing athletes from across the world, Modi said the championship marks the beginning of a new chapter in the world’s sports legacy and positions Yogasana as a competitive sport with international appeal.
“Yoga is India’s timeless gift to humanity. Uniting mind, body and spirit, it inspires a healthier, more harmonious world,” the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting the significance of the venue, Modi noted that Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City, was an ideal host for the inaugural championship.
“Ahmedabad is a UNESCO World Heritage City, and hosting this event in this historic city of India is a matter of pride for the entire country,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the championship, being held ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21, has brought a “double dose of health and wellness” to the global community.
Recalling India’s successful initiative at the United Nations to establish International Yoga Day nearly a decade ago, Modi said 190 countries supported the proposal, reflecting the universal appeal of yoga.
He noted that yoga, meditation and pranayama have become part of the daily lives of millions across the world and said the World Yogasana Championship represents the next phase in yoga’s evolution.
“Through this Championship, Yogasana will get new recognition as a Competitive Sport, and I am confident that in the future, Yogasana will be included in the Olympics and other multi-sports events,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the growth of Yogasana as a sport would create new opportunities for athletes, trainers, researchers, sports scientists and event managers.
Referring to this year’s International Yoga Day theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, Modi said yoga offers an effective and affordable solution for people seeking long-term health and active lifestyles.
“Do yoga every day, and it will chase away all diseases,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the Ministry of Ayush’s “Yoga 365” campaign aimed at making yoga a year-round practice rather than a once-a-year celebration.
Urging participants to carry the message of yoga back to their respective countries, Modi called upon athletes to become ambassadors of the Yoga 365 movement and inspire more people to adopt yoga in their daily lives.
Congratulating all participants, the Prime Minister said their dedication and discipline would inspire young people around the world and contribute to the global promotion of yoga.
Officially opening the event, Modi declared, “I hereby declare the First World Yogasana Championship 2026, Ahmedabad, open.”
The championship is being viewed as a major step toward institutionalising Yogasana as an international competitive discipline while strengthening India’s efforts to promote yoga as a global movement for health, wellness and harmony.
