Ahmedabad is striving to establish itself as a global sporting hub, with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announcing plans for the city to become a “Sports Capital” and potentially host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The inauguration of the first ‘World Yogasana Championship 2026’ marked a significant step in this direction.
The championship, graced by virtual presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has attracted over 500 athletes from 78 countries, including the United States, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan. Supported by the Union Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ayush, the event aims to elevate Yogasana as an international competitive sport.
Emphasizing the importance of sports and yoga in national development, Chief Minister Patel highlighted the role of a healthy society achieved through yoga and pranayama in realizing the vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047.” Such initiatives, he noted, could lead to a healthier and more prosperous India.
Prime Minister Modi, virtually inaugurating the championship, hailed it as a significant milestone in global sports history. He welcomed athletes worldwide to Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City, now hosting this historic sporting event. The championship’s timing ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21 was seen as a dual celebration of health and wellness.
Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya lauded the championship as a testament to yoga’s global recognition as a sport. He highlighted the participation of 500 athletes from 78 nations in the inaugural Yogasana World Cup, underscoring the growing prominence of Yogasana as a competitive sport on the global stage.
