OCA includes Yogasana as demonstration sport in 2026 Asian Games

PTI, Sep 8, 2024, 3:55 PM IST

Image for representation

India’s ancient sport, yogasana was on Sunday included as a demonstration event at the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Yogasana’s inclusion in the Asian Games calendar as a demonstration sport was unanimously passed at the 44th General Assembly of Olympic Council of Asia, where India’s Randhir Singh was elected unopposed as the OCA president for a term of four years from 2024 till 2028.

“Yoga will be a demonstration sport in Nagoya as the calender for 2026 Asian Games has already been made and approved,” Randhir said.

“In 10 days time we have managed to convince all members and include yoga, which is being promoted by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“There are risk of injuries in all other sports, but yoga is a sport which rejuvenates your body,” he added.

Randhir said yoga will need to make its impact in the Nagoya Games to be included as a medal event in the 2030 Asian Games.

“In Nagoya, yoga has to make it presence felt. We have to tell other nations about the benefit of yogasana. We need to send instructors and teach other nations and make it popular,” he said.