International Yoga Day: Know how yoga transformed a life of 90-year-old patient to an international yoga champion

If a person has determination and courage, they can achieve anything, no matter what stage of life they are in. On this International Yoga Day, one of the amazing people who deserve a grand salute, appreciation, and mention is “90-year-old youngster”, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan. At an age when most people are confined to their beds, this elderly athlete with mind-blowing energy and the spirit of a youngster, has become an inspiration for even today’s youth. Demonstrating his determination, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan has proven his mettle by winning not just one, but more than 450 medals in both national and international yoga championships. Even though he is over 90 years old, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan competes in yoga championships in even 30+ age groups and wins medals. Prior to his athletic career, he served as a school principal for 16 years. He began practicing yoga in 2000, and since then, he has been consistently returning from competitions with numerous medals.

How did this amazing Journey of Dr. Ilam Chand Insan begin?

Born in Uttar Pradesh, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan served as a school principal. At the age of 64, he was severely troubled by diabetes and a persistent cough. His body had become weak and he couldn’t even sit properly. In 1996, during a meeting with Dera Sacha Sauda’s Spiritual Master, Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, he expressed his health concerns. Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan advised him to do Pranayama and Yoga. Inspired by Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan began practising Yoga with meditation and Pranayama. With the help of the combination of meditation and yoga and his dedication, he gained strong willpower and miraculously regained his health despite having suffered from serious ailments. By 2002, he started participating in sports, and soon enough, medals began to pour in due to his hard work. At the age of 90, he has even outperformed athletes aged 30 and 60.

Won More Than 450 Medals and Honored by Vice President

Dr. Ilam Chand Insan has won over 450 medals so far, including nearly 100 international, around 200 national, and numerous district and rural level medals. He has received the Life Achievement Award from the Chief Minister of Haryana and honors from the Honorable Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, for his achievements in sports and adventure. Recently, he was honored by various organizations in Uttar Pradesh, including the National Jat Mahasabha, the Senior Citizen Association, and the Samant Samrat Salkhanpal Dev Tomar Trust.

Let’s talk about Dr. Ilam Chand Insan’s Continuous Victories

In 2007, during the Asian Veteran Athletics Championship in Malaysia, he won a bronze medal in the 800 meters, and in 2015, at the International Veteran Games in China, he won silver and bronze medals in pole vault and high jump, respectively, raising the Indian flag high. Additionally, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan won gold medals continuously from 2015 to 2018 in the annual International Yoga Championship in Pondicherry, becoming a champion. His achievements have grown with his age instead of decreasing.

Four Gold Medals at the Open National Sports Championship

Once again proving his talent, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan captured four gold medals at the Open National Sports Championship under the Rural India Sports Development Program in Gurgaon. Competing in the 85+ age group, Ilam Chand Insan won gold medals in pole vault, long jump, and high jump, and a gold medal in yoga in the 30+ age group, bringing pride to his talent and his village, Shah Satnam Ji Pura. This competition was held at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurgaon from May 25 to 28, 2023, with over 10,000 participants showcasing their talents.

Won Four Medals Including Two Golds in Chennai

Dr. Ilam Chand Insan won four medals, including two golds, at the 42nd National Masters Athletics Championship held under the aegis of the Masters Athletics Federation of India (MAFI) from April 27 to May 1, 2022, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai. Competing in the 80+ age group for Haryana, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan won gold in pole vault, gold in the 400m relay race, bronze in triple jump, and bronze in the 100m relay race, bringing pride to Haryana and his village, Shah Satnam Ji Pura. The winning athlete also received a T-shirt, lower-upper, cap, tracksuit, and a cash prize of ₹2000.

Conclusion

Dr. Ilam Chand Insan isn’t definitely stopping at 250 plus medals. From the looks of how he amazes everyone, even his competitors, with his complex Yoga, poses and how he easily wins competitions wherever he goes, Dr. Ilam Chand Insan will keep participating in Yoga championships and will keep winning them. With spiritual inspiration and firm belief, a person can achieve any goal. This has been proven by this 90-year-old Yoga Champion, Ilam Chand Insan, who overcame old age and ailments to make his mark in international and national Yoga competitions. He attributes his victories to the holy teachings and blessings of his Spiritual Master, Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.