UT to declare yoga as sport, seeks administrator’s final nod

In a bid to promote yoga among students right from their childhood, the UT administration has decided to recognise it as a sporting discipline and has sought the administrator’s approval for the same.

In a bid to promote yoga among students right from their childhood, the UT administration has decided to recognise it as a sporting discipline and has sought the administrator’s approval for the same.

The UT administration wants to promote yoga among students right from their childhood. (HT File Photo)

Based on the Centre’s decision taken last year in this regard, the UT sports secretary on Wednesday sent the file for the final approval of administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki.

Sports secretary Sarvjit Singh confirmed the development. He said, “It will be befitting ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21.”

Sources said senior officials were keen to have yoga introduced as a sporting discipline before the June 21 event which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend.

The proposal makes a reference to the Union ministry of sports and youth affairs order, dated September 1, 2015, of recognising yoga as a sporting discipline. The ministry recognised yoga as a sporting discipline placing it in ‘priority’ category alongside disciplines such as football, swimming, squash and chess.

The proposal says that the administration may issue a notification and direct the sports department to comply with the ministry’s orders. The notification also mentions that while Haryana has already declared yoga as a sporting discipline.