Ancient Indian Yogasana possesses immense potential to establish itself as a prominent international competitive sporting discipline in the coming years. Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh voiced this optimism while addressing an athletic gathering in Imphal, urging competitors from across the country to train rigorously for world-stage competitions and secure international acclaim for the traditional Indian practice.
National Championship Gets Underway In Imphal
The Chief Minister delivered these remarks during the inaugural ceremony of the 38th National Yogasana Championship, hosted at the Khuman Lampak Main Indoor Stadium. Scheduled to run from October 2 to October 4, the sporting event has been set up under the central theme of Yogasana for Health, Harmony and National Unity. The championship has been brought together through a collaborative effort between the Manipur Yoga Society and the All India Yoga Federation.
Beyond serving as an arena for national titles, this tournament acts as the official selection trial for the Indian contingent heading to the 12th World Yogasana Championship, which will be held in Thailand in 2027. Athletes representing diverse states and regions across India are currently vying for qualification berths. Highlighting the occasion, the Chief Minister wrote on X that he felt honoured to attend the 38th edition of the competition and witness the selection process for the global meet in Thailand.
Global Prominence Of Traditional Knowledge And Yoga
Emphasising the expanding global resonance of India's heritage, Singh noted that Yogasana is already widely recognized worldwide and is steadily progressing toward formal status as a major sport. He drew parallels with classical Indian disciplines by referencing Sanskrit, explaining how the language has attracted significant attention within global academic circles and modern technological domains due to its structural precision and unique lexical depth.
Tracing the institutional rise of Yoga across continents, the Chief Minister recalled the decisive step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations in 2014, which ultimately led to the official declaration of the International Day of Yoga. Singh shared that he has personally been associated with grassroots programmes promoting Yoga since 2014, consistently participating in initiatives aimed at educating citizens about the tangible physical and psychological benefits of regular practice.
A Call To Spread The Message Of Peace
Turning his focus to the visiting contingents from other parts of India, the Chief Minister made an appeal to the sportspersons gathered in Imphal. He urged them to act as messengers of goodwill when they return to their native states.
He asked the visiting athletes to share firsthand accounts that normalcy and stability have returned to Manipur, thereby helping counter misperceptions and fostering a constructive, positive image of the northeastern state throughout the nation.
