OCA Executive Board agrees to include yoga in Asian Games, General Assembly’s confirmation pending: IOA president PT Usha

On Monday, July 1, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha stated that the Olympic Council of Asia’s (OCA) Executive Board (EB) has already agreed to include yoga as a competitive sport in the Asian Games. However, OCA’s General Assembly’s confirmation is pending. As soon as the IOA receives a nod from the OCA’s GA, yoga will be included in the prestigious Asian Games program.

OCA president Randhir Singh informed Usha about EB’s positive decision. PT Usha thanked Randhir for his support to include yoga as a competitive sport in the Asian Games.

“I am delighted that the OCA Executive Board spontaneously agreed to India’s request to give yoga the recognition it deserves. The proposal shall now move through the Sports Committee to the General Assembly for confirmation,” Usha said in an IOA release.

“It has a universal appeal and people around the world have embraced yoga and drawn benefits,” Usha added in the statement.

After yoga’s recognition on a global scale, the IOA chief stated that embracing it was a natural step for the competitive sports community. Furthermore, she also thanked new Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for his efforts ahead of the Olympic Council of Asia’s Executive Board meeting.

“When we make a collective effort, led by the Prime Minister himself, we can achieve success seamlessly. I am glad India’s effort to have yoga included in the biggest celebrations of sport is finding resonance,” she concluded her statement.

The statement by the IOA was shared on X (formerly Twitter).

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Sports Ministry welcomes PT Usha’s move

A few days back, Mansukh Mandaviya welcomed the IOA president PT Usha’s move to include yoga in the Asian Games program. The Sports Ministry has already granted recognition to Yogasana Bharat for promoting and developing Yogasana as a competitive sport in India.

“It is only fair that in keeping with its wide popularity, yoga becomes a competitive sport and is in the Asian Games,” Mandaviya said in a statement earlier.

An IOA source, who maintained anonymity, stated that it is just the first step towards the inclusion of yoga in the multi-sport event as a medal sport.

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