Unable to follow up on their plans, the Sports Ministry has reversed its decision of recognising yoga as a sport.
In September 2015, the Narendra Modi government placed yoga on the "priority" sports category alongside football, swimming and chess, among others. The Sports Ministry was even contemplating to include different age-group yoga competitions in the National Games apart from recognising the Yoga Federation of India. After 14 months, the ministry issued a communique rolling back the decision.
But it proved to be a short-lived joy for yoga practitioners as it means that yoga can't be termed as a sport anymore.
This decision was made after a review meeting.
A letter from the ministry to the Indian Olympic Association and all recognised national sports federations said:
The decision to make it a sport was speedy and circumvented certain guidelines. In elevating it to the "priority" category, an exception was made to the rule that for inclusion, a sport should be part of the Olympics or the Asian or Commonwealth Games, and that the country should be competitive globally in it.
The proposal to recognise yoga as a sport had come from the department of personnel and training, which is under the PMO. Prime Minister Modi has been a strong proponent of yoga. 21 June was declared as International Yoga Day by the United Nations in December 2014 on Modi's suggestion.
(Source: The Telegraph)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)