Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], April 21 (ANI): Nouf-Al-Marwaai, President of the Asian Yogasana Sports Federation (AYSF) and recipient of India's fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri, spoke on her journey with the discipline, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia and his role in promotion of Yoga worldwide.

Marwaai was speaking to ANI in Jeddah ahead of PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, which will kickstart from Tuesday. Modi is set to visit Saudi Arabia from April 22 to 23, 2025, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the country, following earlier visits in 2016 and 2019.

The AYSF president spoke on how Yoga helped her heal from symptoms of a chronic disease named lupus erythematosus and how this 'life-changing experience' started her love with Yoga.

'At 17 years of age, I was diagnosed with a chronic disease, and I could not go to school again. During that time, my father, from one of his travels, brought a book on Yoga, and then I started practising yoga, learning it from books and videos. After practising yoga, my symptoms really improved, and I went back to school. I have seen how Yoga helps with the nervous system. I fell in love with Yoga,' said Marwaai to ANI.

Speaking on PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, she said, 'It is really significant because Saudi Arabia and India share a lot of cultural and strategic ties. This is an important visit. We will discuss the development of Yoga in the Arab world.'

Marwaai also hailed PM Modi as a 'great supporter of Yoga' and said that the International Yoga Day, which is celebrated on June 21 every year, is largely because of his efforts.

'We all thank PM Modi for that. It is not just a celebration for one day, new people come to know of yoga, yogis are excited to celebrate it. Every ministry of sports, national Olympic committees, yogashalas, yoga centres, yoga practitioners, etc celebrate it. It is a big phenomenon. It is not just one day, of celebration, it is the entire month of June. He is a great supporter of Yoga,' she added.

She also spoke about being appointed as the president of AYSF during the body's sixth general assembly in November last year.

'There are many Arab countries interested in Yoga and started regulating it. It is important to have organisational support for any community practice is to get local authority support and funding to reach more people. The federations of yoga in Arab nations are approved by their respective national Olympic committees and ministries of sports. We are working in a more organised way to promote yoga,' she added.

Marwaai also said that 17-20 countries will be participating in the Asian Yogasana Championship's sixth edition from July 4-7 at Zayed Sports Complex in Fujairah, UAE.

'More than 4,000 people are expected to join as the audience. This is the first time an Arab country will be hosting a Yogasana Championship. They used to happen in India and Southeast Asia earlier. We are expecting a big return,' she added. (ANI)