KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Malaysia emerged as the runner-up at the three-day 24th Amateur World Yoga Sports Championship (AWYSC), held for the first time in the country, at the University of Malaya here.
Malaysia secured the second spot with 100 points, behind India, which claimed their 24th overall title with 408 points.
Vietnam settled for third with 87 points.
Organising committe chairman Ds. Lingham Pillai said 120 participants from 10 countries showcased their talent in the 5,000-year-old exercise system to gain better health and fitness both physically and mentally.
“This is the first time ever the championship is held in Asia out of India,” Lingham told Bernama after the closing ceremony here today. “Yoga sports in Malaysia is very young but growing largely in numbers since the formation of the Malaysian Yoga Sports Association (MYSA) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”
Lingham, who is the coach and president of MYSA, said from next year onwards they would begin the programme on a big scale as part of promoting the sport.
Six events were competed for in the championship, namely Yogasanas, Artistic Yoga, Artistic Yoga Touch Pair, Rhythmic Yoga Pair, Yoga Dance and Yoga Dance Pair.
The medals and certificates were presented by the association’s adviser Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, its ambassador Datuk G. Geethanjali and International Yoga Sports Federation general secretary Ashok Kumar Aggarwal.
Other countries that took part were Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Peru, Russia, Sri Lanka and the US.
Yoga is a practice that trains the body, spirit and mind to be flexible and strong, as well as releasing stress and creating inner peace. — Bernama
