22ND PONDICHERRY STATE YOGA SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP 2007

November 26, 2007

Nearly 500 contestants ranging in age from two to 70 years, representing 19 institutions of Pondicherry took part in the 22nd PONDICHERRY STATE YOGA SPORT CHAMPIONSHIP 2007 held at Subulakshmi Mahal in Muthialpet on the 17th and 18th of November 2007.

R V Krithika

and Mohana Padmanabhan bagged the Senior Championship Awards for female and male competitors respectively while Poonkuzhali and

A. Kandavel won the Junior Championship Awards in the girls and boys categories respectively.

The competition was divided into three parts. The first part was a theory examination followed by practical performance of three compulsory and two own choice postures. There was also a Special event with competitors performing front bending, back bending, twisting, hand balancing and standing postures from a list of 50 postures. In the final round, the competitors had to perform 5 own choice postures followed by the Yoga Viva.

The competition that had 50 separate competitive events in seven age related categories with 250 prizes and merit certificates was organised by the Pondicherry Yogasana Association which is the official body for Yoga Sport in Pondicherry. The PYA is recognised by the International Yoga Federation (South America), International Council of Yoga Sport (New Delhi), Yoga Confederation of India as well as the Asian Union of Yoga (New Delhi) and is affiliated to the Indian Yoga Federation (Kolkata). This championship had the blessings of all these governing bodies of Yoga sport as well as the Tamil Nadu State Yogasana Association.

This year's competition also featured a separate competition category for special children who learn Yoga in the SADAY Special School showing the Asana skills they have developed in the past year of training under Yoga Chemmal Meena Ramanathan.

S. Tamil Sengolan, a student-faculty member of Yognat and a MBA student in Anna University, Chennai said, "The whole competition provided a ground to know about happiness, creating happiness, perseverance, cleanliness, truthfulness apart from the excellent performance of Yoga Asanas. On the whole the competition was a grand success by achieving its own implicit goal of spreading awareness about Yoga, Spirituality and Brotherhood".

G Dayanidy, a student-faculty member of Yognat and a MCA student in Pondicherry University said, "This type of healthy competition really helps the children to improve their self confidence, state of awareness and responsibility. I personally benefited by knowing how to react to various situations, how to manage time, etc. In these two days of the Yoga competition I feel that I have learnt something for my life. All these things only happened because of our great Swamiji, Amma and the great person my Yoga guru Dr. Sir (Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani).....and all the members of the Pondicherry Yogasana Association.

Thiru Marudu Ramalingam

(Retired Superintendent of Pondicherry Police), Administrative Officer Pondicherry State Sports Council, distributed the championship awards to the worthy winners on the 18th November 2007.

Other guests of honour for the championship included Thiru TP Santhaseelan, Vice President PYA, Thiru CK Manoharun, Vice President PYA , Yogacharini Yoga Chemmal Dr

Nalini Devi, Gitananda Yoga Spain, Yogacharini Maitreyi of Arkaya Awareness Centre, Chennai, Yogacharini Deepika representing Gitananda Yoga UK, Yogacharini Aishwariya representing Gitananda Yoga Canada, Dr Sugatham, Director SADAY Special School, Yoga Chemmal

Meena Ramanathan – Coordinator Yoga Dept, Pondicherry University Community College, Yogachemmal V Anbazhagan, President Pondicherry Naturopathy Association, Yogachemmal D

Sendil Kumar, President Pondicherry Yoga Teachers Welfare Association.

"YOGA CHEMMAL" Awards were presented to Yogacharini Maitreyi of Chennai, Yogacharini Aishwariya of Canada and Shri V Ravindran of Pondicherry in recognition of their service for the cause of Yoga and its propagation worldwide.

Various Yoga demonstrations were held by students of the ICYER

and Yoganjali Natyalayam and Students of Smt Prema of Cudallore. Students of

SADAY, a school for mentally challenged special children presented a heart warming Yoga demonstration on the occasion.

Pondicherry Yogasana Association is recognised by the International Yoga Federation (South America) as well as the Asian Union of Yoga (New Delhi) and affiliated to the Indian Yoga Federation (Kolkata). Founded by Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj in 1975, the PYA has been active in conducting Yoga Sport events such as 21 Pondicherry State Level Yoga Sport Championships, six Swami Gitananda Best Youth and Child Award Competitions and the State Level 'Himalaya' Yoga Olympiad Competition in 2001.

The Yoga Sport Championship 2007 was sponsored by DINA MALAR, INTEGRA SOFTWARE SERVICES, Creations Constructions, Jyoti Eye Care Hospital, Jewel Palace, P. T. P. Trust, Souvenir Travels, Sharatha's, Wonders and Ananda Ashram with assistance from many donors.