Jharkhand is set to take a big yoga stride with as many as 30 enthusiasts, all hailing from Ranchi, making it to a national-level competition scheduled at the mega sports complex in Hotwar in July.

Ace performers will go on to represent India at the 3rd International Yoga Championship, which will be held in Taiwan on October 26 and 27.

The state team was finalised after a selection test organised on March 31 at the Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Morabadi. Organised by Jharkhand Yoga Association under the aegis of Indian Yoga Federation, the selection was attended by Taiwan-based Nilesh Karmakar, one of the organisers of the international event.

Around 65 candidates from various age groups competed for a berth in the state team. They were divided in five age groups: under-15, 15 to 25, 25 to 30, 30-45 and 45 and above.

Each participant was required to perform three mandatory asanas. The fourth was a choice from options specified for each age group.

Notably, of the 40 candidates who represented India in Hong Kong at the 2012 edition of the International Yoga Championship, 24 hailed from Jharkhand. Three yoga enthusiasts from the state had also clinched medals.

Jharkhand Yoga Association, credited with inculcating asana culture among youngsters, is optimistic in the run-up to the national contest. "Brilliant performances in the selections have raised our hopes. We had clinched a gold, a silver and a bronze in Hong Kong last year. We hope to better our own record this time," said Nandulal Dutta, secretary of the association.

The participants have already started practising for the national meet. Akansha Kumari, a Class IV student of Cambrian High School who had bagged the gold last year, said: "I believe we will perform well this time too."

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Ranchi yoga buffs eye global glory