The State capital is all set to play host to the 8th Asian Yoga Sports Championship, which will be held at the Jimmy George indoor stadium from September 27 to 30.
The event will witness around 500 participants representing 14 Asian countries showcasing their yoga skills.
The curtains will go up on the championship with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally inaugurating the event on September 27 at 12 p.m. Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan and Sports Minister E.P. Jayarajan will also speak. Noted Saudi yoga instructor Nouf Marwaai, who was recently awarded the Padma Shri, is also expected to participate.
Yogaratna Awards will be given away to foreign delegates who were instrumental in popularising yoga in their respective countries. Governor P. Sathasivam will present the awards to the winners of the championship and inaugurate the valedictory function on September 30 at 4 p.m.
Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, Asian Yoga Federation president Ashok Kumar Aggarwal, also the president of the Yoga Federation of India, said the pan-Asian yoga event was being held in the country for the second time.
The second edition of the championship was held in Hyderabad. “When India was chosen to host the championship this year, Kerala and Goa were considered as venues. Ultimately, Kerala turned out to be the unanimous choice, owing to its cultural heritage and the importance shown in popularising yoga,” he said.
Participants from various countries including China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Iran, Nepal, Vietnam, Afghanisthan and Bangladesh would vie for the top prizes in various categories. The Indian contingent included 111 yoga exponents, including five Keralites.
Regarding the participation of Pakistan in the event, Mr. Aggarwal said the Pakistan Yoga Federation had been extended an invitation and that it was up to them to take a decision on their participation.
Competitions would be held under various age groups in six categories including Asian yogasana sports competition, Asian artistic yoga sports competition, Asian artistic pair yoga sports competition, Asian rhythmic yoga sports competition, Asian free flow dance competition, and Asian professional yogasana sports competition.