Aarti Pal was nominated for the Arjuna Award in the National Sports Awards 2025. What made her nomination historically significant?
- She won the first international yogasana championship for India
- She was the first woman athlete from Uttar Pradesh nominated for Arjuna
- She became the first para-sports athlete to receive the Arjuna nomination
- She was the first yogasana athlete ever recommended for the Arjuna Award
Answer: She was the first yogasana athlete ever to be recommended for the Arjuna Award
Aarti Pal is the national and Asian champion in yogasana — competitive yoga. Yogasana was formally recognised as a competitive sport by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2020, but no yogasana athlete had been recommended for the Arjuna Award in the five years since. Pal's 2025 nomination was the first. Yogasana will feature as a demonstration sport at the 2026 Asian Games.