IOA President PT Usha Advocates Yoga’s Inclusion In Asian Games

PT Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association, has strongly advocated for the inclusion of Yoga in the Asian Games programme. In a letter to Raja Randhir Singh, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Usha emphasized Yoga’s global embrace and its significant benefits for physical and mental health. She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting Yoga, noting its universal appeal celebrated during the 10th International Day of Yoga on June 21.

Highlighting India’s role as the spiritual home of Yoga, Usha urged for its inclusion in major sporting events like the Asian Games and eventually the Olympics. She referenced global initiatives, such as Yoga sessions at the Louvre Museum in Paris, as a testament to Yoga’s growing recognition worldwide.

Usha also mentioned the support of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, who sees the Asian Games as a stepping stone towards Yoga’s inclusion in the Olympics. She highlighted Yoga’s success in events like the Khelo India Games and its recent inclusion in the National Games in Goa, including Mallakhambh and Yogasanas.

Expressing confidence in Yoga’s appeal to broadcasters and its potential to attract global audiences, Usha urged the Olympic Council of Asia to consider her proposal favorably.