Imphal: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh opened the 38th National Yogasana Championship in Imphal today. The event runs from October 2 to 4, 2026, at the Khuman Lampak Main Indoor Stadium. It serves as a selection trial for the 12th World Yogasana Championship, scheduled for 2027 in Thailand. The Manipur Yoga Society and the All-India Yoga Culture Federation organized the gathering under the theme Yogasana for Health, Harmony and National Unity.
Khemchand pushed for Yogasana to earn status as a major global sport. He urged Indian athletes to train hard for upcoming international competitions. The Chief Minister compared the sport to hockey, warning that success requires consistent, long-term preparation. He noted that Sanskrit, India’s ancient language, now gains traction in European tech circles due to its precision. Khemchand has promoted Yoga locally since 2014, working with Seva Bharati teachers. He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for securing United Nations backing for the International Day of Yoga in 2014.
Minister of Home and Youth Affairs Govindas Konthoujam addressed the crowd. He touted the discipline as a tool for mental balance and physical fitness. The Minister said, "Yoga had gained unprecedented global visibility, with India playing a leading role in taking the ancient tradition to the world stage."
Khemchand closed by asking visitors to act as ambassadors for his home state. He told participants to carry a message of peace from Manipur back to their home regions. Dignitaries at the opening included MLA Thangjam Arun Kumar Singh, Dr. Basudev Singh, Babul Bikas Patranabis, Dr. Shrikant Warankar, Dr. Uttam Ojha, and Ksh. Gopendra Singh. The Chief Minister interacted with the athletes before the competition officially began.
Updated at 2nd October 2026 at 9:50pm
Khemchand linked the push for international recognition to a potential future Olympic bid, challenging athletes to aim for the world stage. He specifically framed the need for rigorous training against the history of Indian hockey, noting that the country often lost its edge in that sport due to lapses in long-term preparation.
Addressing the visiting athletes, the Chief Minister made a direct appeal for them to act as messengers. He asked the competitors to tell their home states that Manipur has achieved peace, aiming to shift the national narrative surrounding the region.
Additional dignitaries attending the opening included Dr. Uttam Ojha, President of the All India Divyang Cricket Association, who joined the previously named officials on the dais.
Updated at 3rd October 2026 at 1:48pm
Khemchand framed the long-term goal of the sport as a future bid for Olympic inclusion. He challenged participants to train with the intensity required for such a transition, citing the inconsistency that cost India its dominance in hockey as a cautionary tale.
The Chief Minister tasked the visiting athletes with a specific mission to help repair the image of his state. He urged competitors to return home and spread the word that Manipur is now peaceful to shift the national perception of the region.
Official rosters for the event listed Dr. Basudev Singh as the Working President of the Organizing Committee and Ksh. Gopendra Singh as the event Convener.
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