Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on June 4, 2026, through a video message. The event marks a significant milestone in establishing yogasana as a competitive sport, with Modi expressing confidence that it will eventually be included in the Olympics and other multi-sport events. The championship precedes World Yoga Day, which will be celebrated on June 21st with the main program scheduled in Kolkata.
The Prime Minister highlighted that 190 countries in the UN supported India's proposal for International Yoga Day approximately a decade ago. He emphasized that the expansion of yogasana as a sport will create new career opportunities for athletes, trainers, sports scientists, researchers, and event managers. The event's theme aligns with this year's International Day of Yoga theme of 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing'.
Modi promoted the Ministry of Ayush's 'Yoga 365' campaign and urged participating athletes to become global ambassadors of yoga upon returning to their respective countries. He declared the championship open, noting that Ahmedabad's status as a UNESCO World Heritage City made hosting the event a matter of national pride.