Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the inaugural World Yogasana Sports Championship virtually as Ahmedabad welcomes athletes from more than 60 countries for the landmark event.

The EKA Arena will host the championship from 4 to 8 June, bringing together nearly 400 competitors from across the globe.

Participants will compete in traditional, artistic, rhythmic pairs and team Yogasana disciplines, marking the first international championship dedicated to the sport.

Athletes from countries including the United States, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan have arrived for the competition.

India will field a strong contingent of 122 athletes competing across six age categories for both men and women.

Ahead of the event, Prime Minister Modi highlighted Yoga's growing popularity worldwide and described the championship as a significant milestone for Yogasana. He also congratulated the organisers and extended his best wishes to all participants.

Supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Ayush, the Sports Authority of India, the Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism, and the Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association, the event aims to promote Yogasana as a recognised international sporting discipline.

The championship programme includes individual, artistic, and traditional group events. Organisers will also introduce an electronic scoring system at a global Yogasana competition to ensure greater transparency and consistency in judging.

A panel comprising 32 international judges and 51 national judges will supervise the contests throughout the five-day event.