World Yogasana Championships 2026: India Clinches Clean Gold Sweep Across Inaugural Event

Hosts India ended the inaugural World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad with 114 medals, including 102 gold, showing clear control at EKA Arena on Monday. Japan finished second with three gold, three silver, and five bronze. Argentina placed third, driven by Nabila Barraza’s two gold and three silver.

Nepal emerged as the second most successful contingent by medal count, earning 52 medals. Their haul featured one gold, 36 silver, and 15 bronze, for fifth in the standings. Uzbekistan claimed 25 medals, including one gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze, underscoring broad regional depth in Yogasana sport.

Across five days, 522 athletes from 79 countries competed in Ahmedabad, which is the 2030 Commonwealth Games venue. Athletes from 31 nations won at least one medal. Ten countries secured at least one gold, reflecting early global reach for Yogasana as a structured competitive discipline.

India fielded a 122-member squad across six age groups. These were Sub-Junior Men and Women, Junior Men and Women, Senior, Senior A, Senior B and Senior C. Events tested artistic, rhythmic and strength-based Yogasana skills in pairs and individual routines across diverse positions and balances.

Global support and vision for Yogasana sport

Several Indian agencies backed the Championships. Support came from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Ayush, Sports Authority of India, Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association, reflecting coordinated efforts to build Yogasana as an organised global sport.

World Yogasana President Yogrishi Swami Ramdevi Ji Maharaj shared a video message. He called the World Yogasana Championship “the beginning of a global movement”. He said yoga was a way of life and that every athlete was an ambassador of yoga to the world.

He urged participants to connect the world through yoga. He expressed belief that this journey could one day take Yogasana to the Olympic stage and inspire future generations. The event aimed to blend competition with yoga’s values of health, harmony, peace and human unity.

The Championships also offered cultural exposure for visitors. Athletes praised Indian hospitality and learnt about Yogasana’s history. Armenia’s Sona Soghayan, who began yoga during her second pregnancy three years ago, said she hoped to promote yoga at home. She highlighted its role in maintaining wellbeing.

Highlights from artistic and rhythmic events

In Artistic Pair Sub Junior Female, India’s Ishika Guchhait and Ishanvi took gold with 90.89 points. Zambia’s Niya Vijayvargiya and Aarohi Lokhande claimed silver with 82.38. Japan’s Renka Aoki and Ichika Shimizu earned bronze after scoring 60.34 in a strong field.

Artistic Pair Junior Female gold went to India’s Deepa Lodhi and Sima Niopane with 90.42. Nepal’s Sweakshya Thapa and Pragya Gautam secured silver with 56.39. Zambia’s Tasila Blessings Phiri and Deborah captured bronze on 41.30, as India’s junior women again led the category.

In Artistic Pair Junior Male, India’s Ayush Bhowmik and Om Dehankar won gold, scoring 91.03. Sri Lanka’s Mukheshkar Rajan and Pratheesh Sanjeewakumar took silver with 33.08. Nepal’s Kanna Singh Khadka and Sandesh Dhital completed the podium with 20.27, adding to Nepal’s medal surge.

Rhythmic Pair Senior Female gold went to India’s Indu Mathuria and Devi, who posted 71.77. Uzbekistan’s Djumanova Aliya Abubakir and Ansatbaeva Aysulu Arislan finished close behind for silver with 68.84. Bronze was shared by Sri Lanka’s Charuni Nikeshala and Saumya Sewmini, and Oman’s Manar Al Maskari and Sreya Nagasubramanian on 23.05.

Strength events: leg balance, hand balance and back bend

In the Leg Balance Individual Sub Junior Female event, India’s Salini Dey secured gold with 45.00. Nepal’s Sumanta claimed silver on 33.33. Zambia’s Aarohi Lokhande, already a pair medallist, added bronze with 32.84, underlining her strong all-round performance across different events.

Hand Balance Individual Sub Junior Male saw India’s Arthav Singh Negi win gold with 48.08. Nepal’s Prayaas Jung Chauhan took silver with 40.05. Sri Lanka’s Pranad Rathnakumar earned bronze on 33.39. In Senior Female Hand Balance, India’s Shilpa Das struck gold with 45.79 points.

Kazakhstan’s Aizhan Kuanyshbayeva collected silver with 39.69 in Senior Female Hand Balance. Nepal’s Chadian Pariyar followed with bronze on 35.05. The Back Bend Individual Sub Junior Male title went to India’s Gokarna Sharma, who scored 48.25. Sri Lanka’s Yaatheesh Krishanthan took silver with 35.90.

Romania’s Timothy James completed that podium with 32.18. Back Bend Individual Sub Junior Female gold went to India’s Risha Shetty with 46.75. Oman’s Yashvi Babariya claimed silver on 43.39. Nepal’s Sonam Wangmo Tamang took bronze with 40.38, adding to the nation’s growing medal list.

Back bend, twisting and supine results

In the Back Bend Individual Junior Male, India’s Raj Cajole secured gold with 46.50. Nepal’s Nibisun Tamang earned silver on 36.83. Oman’s Jay Rajesh Sonja captured bronze with 31.76. Back Bend Individual Junior Female gold went to India’s Anika Rana with 45.33.

Nepal’s Priya Gharti Chhetri won silver on 36.79, while Sri Lanka’s Thuvesha Ramesh took bronze with 36.23. In the Twisting Body Individual Junior Male event, India’s Adarsh scored 47.83 for gold. Uzbekistan’s Alikhon Rakhmano collected silver with 37.76, and Oman’s Paranjay Sanjeev Vyas earned bronze with 35.39.

Twisting Body Individual Senior Male gold went to India’s Subhajit Karmakar with 45.42. Uzbekistan’s Alan took silver with 39.73. Indonesia’s Arkan Fauzan Riyanto clinched bronze with 38.09. In Senior Female Twisting Body, India’s Madhu Verma won gold with 44.08.

Uzbekistan’s Ansatbaeva Aysulu Arislan secured silver on 37.39. Oman’s Sreya Nagasubramaniam claimed bronze with 36.79. Supine Individual Junior Male gold went to India’s Drona with 37.91. Nepal’s Babin Shrestha took silver with 35.44, while Oman’s Jay Rajesh Soneji earned bronze on 33.64.

In Supine Individual Senior Female, India’s Riya won gold with 42.48. Kazakhstan’s Asian Kuanyshbayeva took silver on 41.30. Uzbekistan’s Djumanova Akiya Abubakir kizi secured bronze with 39.84.