Which country officially recognised Yoga as a sports activity and listed it under sports, giving it formal status in that category?

Introduction / Context:
This question is from international current affairs and cultural diplomacy. Yoga, which originated in ancient India, has spread worldwide and is now practised in many countries. In one notable step, a foreign country officially recognised Yoga as a sports activity, giving it a formal place under its sports authorities. This move received significant media coverage and therefore appears in competitive exam questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

We are asked which country listed Yoga as a sports activity.
Options include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, and Pakistan.
We assume the question reflects the widely reported decision by a Middle Eastern country's sports authority.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall that the country involved was Saudi Arabia, whose authorities approved Yoga as a sports discipline after lobbying by practitioners and instructors. This meant that Yoga could be taught and practised more openly under the sports framework. The decision was significant because it came from a country with conservative social norms, making it a notable current affairs fact.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look at the options and identify which region they belong to. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are Gulf countries, Slovenia is in Europe, and Pakistan is a neighbour of India. Step 2: Recall news reports that specifically mentioned Saudi Arabia as having listed Yoga under sports categories after an official announcement. Step 3: Recognise that the story was described as a historic recognition of Yoga in Saudi Arabia. Step 4: Compare this memory with the options and select Saudi Arabia. Step 5: Rule out the other countries, which did not attract similar news coverage in this specific context.

Verification / Alternative check:
International news outlets and Indian current affairs magazines reported that the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Trade and Investment and its sports authority allowed Yoga to be registered and practised as a sports activity. This was hailed as a significant gesture towards accepting Yoga in a country where such practices had previously faced restrictions. These consistent accounts confirm that Saudi Arabia is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The United Arab Emirates regularly hosts Yoga events and has many practitioners, but the specific widely reported decision to list Yoga as a sports activity in official records was associated with Saudi Arabia, not the UAE. Slovenia and Pakistan have their own sports structures, but there was no major global coverage of them formally listing Yoga as a sports activity in the same way. Selecting any of these would therefore not match the event described in exam material.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may guess the United Arab Emirates because it is known for being relatively open and modern among Gulf states, but that would be mixing up general openness with this specific regulatory step. Others may overthink and pick Slovenia as a random European country, ignoring the clear context in news about Saudi social reforms. Keeping track of such symbolic recognitions, especially when they involve Indian culture abroad, can prevent these errors.

Final Answer:
The country that officially listed Yoga as a sports activity is Saudi Arabia.