“A New Phase for Yoga Begins”: PM Modi Inaugurates World Yogasana Championship 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today declared open the 1st World Yogasana Championship 2026 in Ahmedabad through video conferencing. He linked the event to International Yoga Day and said it offers "a Double Dose of Health and Wellness" for the global yoga and sports community.

Modi said that traditions must grow with time and called the championship a new chapter for yoga. "Every living tradition enters new phases with time. This World Championship of Yogasana Sports marks the beginning of such a new phase," he told participants and officials.

The Prime Minister underlined how big sports build ecosystems around them. He said that as Yogasana Sport expands, linked opportunities will also grow. He noted chances for athletes, trainers, sports scientists, researchers and event managers in India and abroad.

Beyond medals and results

Modi congratulated all athletes at the World Yogasana Championship and said the event’s value goes beyond medals. "No matter who wins this competition, by becoming a part of this important chapter of history, all of you have already become Champions," he said.

The Prime Minister asked athletes to act as ambassadors for the Ministry of Ayush’s 'Yoga Three Sixty Five' campaign. He urged them to take yoga’s message back home and inspire people in their countries to practice the discipline across the year.

Global sporting ambitions for Yogasana

Modi expressed confidence that Yogasana will gain a place in major international sporting events. He suggested that this championship can support that goal, by giving the discipline structured rules, wider viewership, and a platform for athletes from many different nations.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, addressed the gathering in Ahmedabad. He described the Yogasana Championship as a historic moment for India. He also said it mattered for the global yoga community and sport focused yoga.