Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 4 June addressed athletes and delegates at the inauguration of the first World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad, recalling that 190 countries had backed India's proposal at the United Nations for the establishment of International Yoga Day nearly a decade ago. Speaking virtually, Modi said the unprecedented multilateral support reflected yoga's universal appeal and its role in advancing global health and collective well-being.

Modi's Remarks at the Inaugural Ceremony

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said: "Nearly a decade ago, India took the proposal for the International Day of Yoga to the United Nations. We wanted to connect the ancient Indian tradition with the health and collective well-being of all humanity. At that time, 190 countries supported India's proposal."

He added that it gave him great happiness to see that "millions of people have made yoga a part of their daily routine. Meditation and pranayama are becoming a part of their lifestyle."

Modi also noted that every living tradition evolves over time, and that Yogasana as a competitive sport represented the next phase in yoga's development.

About the World Yogasana Championship

The World Yogasana Championship is a five-day event and marks the first global competition dedicated to Yogasana as a recognised competitive sporting discipline. More than 400 athletes from over 60 countries — spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America — have gathered in Ahmedabad for the inaugural edition.

Organisers have introduced standardised judging criteria and competition formats designed to establish an internationally accepted framework for the sport, a significant structural step toward formal global recognition.

Ahmedabad as Host City

Prime Minister Modi noted that Ahmedabad, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage City, was an appropriate venue for what he described as a historic event. He said the participation of countries from diverse regions demonstrated growing international interest in yoga and reflected the success of India's efforts to link its ancient practice with contemporary global health priorities.

Significance and What It Means for Yoga's Global Standing

The championship is widely viewed as a milestone in efforts to expand yoga's reach beyond wellness into competitive sport. This comes amid sustained diplomatic and cultural outreach by India to position yoga as a soft-power asset on the world stage. Notably, the push to institutionalise Yogasana as a sport follows years of India lobbying international sporting bodies for formal recognition.

The participation of athletes from more than 60 nations suggests that momentum is building, though formal inclusion in multi-sport events such as the Asian Games or Olympics remains a longer-term aspiration for proponents of the discipline.