Mallakhamb, Yogasana & Indian martial arts — Step-by-Step Roadmap

1. 1
   Stage 1 · 8–14 · any age Grassroots & local entry

   Learn in an akhara, kalari or yoga centre and join your state association; SAI IGMA schools (NSTC) take 8–14. [8][3]

2. 2
   Stage 2 · U14 · U17 · U19 State to national breakthrough

   District, state and national school games (e.g. gatka U-19), then state championships for the nationals. KIYG 2026 lists gatka, kalaripayattu, mallakhamb, thang-ta and yogasana. [3][16]

3. 3
   Stage 3 · Under 18 · senior National medals

   KIYG and national medals count for central sports-quota jobs (mallakhamb, yogasana). No SAI NCOE or STC lists these five sports. [11][8]

4. ★
   Stage 4 · Senior World championships

   Mallakhamb and yogasana world championships are listed for the Ministry's cash awards. None of the five is on the LA28 or Asian Games programme. [6][4][5]

Fuel, from stage 1: food first. Pair cereals with pulses about 3:1 — roti or rice with dal, chana or rajma; vegetarians add milk or curd, others eggs, fish or meat. ICMR-NIN says most athletes get enough protein from food and protein powders are unnecessary; NADA warns that no supplement is risk-free. [17][18]

• Khelo India Youth Games are for under-18 athletes; school games use age groups such as Under-14, Under-17 and Under-19 (gatka was played as Under-19).
• Even yogasana competitions disqualify for doping, under-age or over-age — the medal then passes to the next athlete. [1][3][2]

• Under the anti-doping code you must be available for testing and check every medicine against the Prohibited List; apply to NADA for a TUE if you need a banned medicine. [7]

The ladder [3][1][11][6]

• None of the five has a SAI National Centre of Excellence or SAI Training Centre listed in SAI's scheme brief; they are taught in akharas, kalaris, yoga centres, schools and through state associations. [8]

• Kit is simple: a mallakhamb pole or rope at the centre, a yoga mat, and for the martial arts sticks, shields or practice weapons. Yogasana competitions forbid props in artistic and rhythmic events. Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices — no governing body publishes them. [2]

Who pays [9]

Sports-quota status [10][13]

• Since March 2024, Khelo India Games medals also qualify for central sports-quota jobs — but only in sports on the DoPT list. [11]

1. Khelo India Youth Games 2025 (Bihar) — official site (opens in a new tab) Gatka, kalaripayattu, mallakhamb, thang-ta and yogasana among the 27 KIYG sports; schedule · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
2. DoPT / Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board — Inter-Ministry Yogasana Competition 2024-25: circular, rules and marking system (26 July 2024) (opens in a new tab) Traditional, artistic solo/pair and rhythmic pair events, holding times, marks out of 10, deductions, positions, doping/age disqualification · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
3. All India Radio News — 69th National School Games begin in Punjab (opens in a new tab) Gatka Under-19 boys and girls at the National School Games, Ludhiana · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
4. LA28 — 2028 Olympic Games Plan (sports list) (opens in a new tab) LA28 sports list · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
5. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games — Sports (opens in a new tab) 2026 Asian Games sports list · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
6. MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) World Yogasana (quadrennial) and Asian Yogasana (biennial), World Mallakhamb (quadrennial) championships · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
7. NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing availability, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
8. SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) NCOE and STC sport lists · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
9. PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) Khelo India, welfare fund · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
10. DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Mallakhamb and yogasana in the 65-sport list; gatka, kalaripayattu, thang-ta not listed · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
11. DoPT Office Memorandum, 4 March 2024 — Incentive for Sportspersons (opens in a new tab) Khelo India Games medallists added · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
12. Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, level norms, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
13. CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) Yogasana posts; age and relaxation, qualifications, fee, bond · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
14. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Diploma in Sports Coaching (course page, 2026-27) (opens in a new tab) 1 year, ₹63,800, 785 + 104 seats in 26 disciplines at Patiala, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram; Category A (Class 12 + international record), B (graduation + national record) · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
15. SAI NSNIS Patiala — Six Week Certificate Course in Sports Coaching (opens in a new tab) 6 weeks (4 online, 2 offline), ₹14,800, Class 12 + district-level top 3 or state / inter-university / SGFI / national participation · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
16. Khelo India Youth Games 2026 (Telangana) — Sports (opens in a new tab) The 25 disciplines listed for KIYG 2026 · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
17. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
18. NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Supplement risk, strict liability, food-first approach · Last checked 15 Oct 2026