The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) says that yoga is not a sport and yet 11 colleges under the DU consider this as a sport and has reserved the seats for the discipline under the sports quota.
MYAS recognized it as a sport in 2015 but reversed its decision the next year.
"After elaborate discussion, it was concluded that yoga has various dimensions/arms in which competitions are not possible. Hence, it was agreed that Yoga cannot be termed a sport. Consequently, it may not be appropriate to recognize any organization as NSF (national sports federation) for yoga," the Sports Ministry had said in a letter dated December 21, 2016.
"It was also agreed that the entire matter relating to yoga will continue to be handled by the Ministry of AYUSH," the letter said.
Anil Kalkal, Director of the varsity sports council told IANS “Yes, Yoga has been under sports quota and it has been there in previous years also. Last year, 19 colleges had applied for trial for Yoga under sports quota. The decision, in which sports admissions are to be made, is taken by the colleges.”
"Colleges have autonomy to choose the sports under which they wish to give admissions. University cannot tell a college to pick a specific sport. It is at their discretion. These sports do not come under Sports Ministry, nor are they regulated by it," he said.
Kalkal also told that Association of Indian Universities (AIU) holds inter-university competition in Yoga, which is another reason for them to consider yoga as a sport.
"If such was the thing (de-recognition) why would AIU conduct the yoga competition? The day AIU will tell us that Yoga is not a sport and stop conducting the competition, we will stop taking admission under it," he said.
When officials from one of the colleges were contacted about the matter they passed the buck to the university.
Tags: Du
Delhi University
Du Admissions 2018
Du Admissions Under Sports Quota
Ministry Of Youth Affairs And Sports
