Saudi Arabia approves Yoga, declares it as sports activity

Narendra Modi’s ambitious project of boosting Yoga got a major push on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia approved the ancient Indian practice as a sports activity.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has listed Yoga under ‘sports activities’. With the listing now citizens of the Islamic kingdom can practice or teach it by getting a licence from the government.

Indian diplomatic mission in 2015 had organised yoga sessions in many Indian schools in Saudi Arabia after United Nations declared June 21 as International Yoga Day.

The introduction of Yoga as sports activities in the Muslim kingdom is credited to 37-year-old Noud Al Marwaai. She teaches Yoga to hundreds of people in the Arab nation. She has been approaching the Saudi Arabian government since 2005 to make Yoga official.

According to reports, Marwaai had recently approached Princess Reema Bint Bandar Alsaud, member of Royal Council and deputy of the General Sports Authority, to make Yoga official. The princess had assured her and had said, “Things are changing and they will soon approve sports for women.”

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Marwaai told media that she started practising Yoga after she was detected of a disease. “My disease is stable and even doctors are surprised. All thanks to Yoga,” said Marwaai.