Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], April 22 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Arab Yoga Sports Federation (AYSF) President Nouf Marwaai highlighted the growing cultural and strategic ties between India and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on her personal journey with yoga and its transformative impact on her health, Marwaai praised PM Modi's global efforts to promote yoga, calling his upcoming visit 'significant' for fostering deeper collaboration and expanding the reach of yoga across the Arab world.

Marwaai was speaking to ANI in Jeddah ahead of PM Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, which will kickstart from today 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 about 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, yoga shalas, 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)