Ahmedabad, Oct 12: The first-ever BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Demonstration Games concluded here with close to 160 participants from the 10 member nations displaying their native sports in a one-day meet where India made its mark through yogasana and mallakhamb.
In addition, there was a wushu (martial art) demonstration from China, a board game togyzkumalak from Kazakhstan and a meditative Jiu-Jitsu display from Brazil on Monday.
Besides mallakhamb and yogasana, India also demonstrated kalaripayattu (an ancient martial art form in Keralam). Ahmedabad, which will stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games, is also in the race to host the 2036 Olympics.
“Yoga is one of the activities in South Africa that people use to detox, relieve stress and improve movement and flexibility. We embrace it, and we love it,” Philasande Macwili, Chef-De-Mission of South Africa, said.
Apart from the high-intensity mallakhamb (aerial gymnastics performed on a wooden pole or suspended ropes), a demonstration of rhythmic yogasana also hogged the limelight for India.
At the yogasan world championships in June, India had recorded a haul of 114 medals, 102 of them being gold in a field that featured 79 countries and over 500 competitors.
India had the largest contingent at the Games with 50 participants, followed by China (30), Iran (22) and South Africa (14). (PTI)