World Yogasana Championships 2026: India Dominates Day 3 With 22 Golds As Ritu Mondal Wins Double Titles

India tightened control of the medals table at the World Yogasana Championships 2026, extending the gold count to 22 and staying clear of Argentina and Singapore. The host team collected honours across almost every category at EKA Arena on the third day, while Nepal, Japan and the United States of America also secured one gold medal each.

By the time events ended on the third competition day, India had reached 22 gold, 5 silver and 1 bronze. Performances came from all six age groups, with home athletes appearing on the podium in nearly every session. The strong returns underlined India’s status as host and long-time centre of yogasana practice.

World Yogasana Championships 2026 medal standings

Argentina moved into second place overall after a strong run by Nabila Sol Barraza, whose two gold and two silver medals defined the team’s campaign so far. Singapore slipped to third with two gold and two bronze, while Nepal climbed to fourth after collecting one gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

Ritu Mondal delivered one of India’s standout displays. Ritu first took the country’s opening gold in the Traditional Yogasana Senior A Female category, then added a team gold medal to become the first Indian athlete with two golds at this championship. Japan, Nepal and the United States of America also celebrated key individual titles on the same day.

World Yogasana Championships 2026 competition overview

The World Yogasana Championships 2026 is the first global event dedicated solely to competitive yogasana. Organisers framed the tournament as a step in turning this traditional Indian discipline into an international sport, while strengthening its case for future Olympic recognition. EKA Arena hosted the contests, drawing delegations from several continents.

The championship received support from multiple Indian bodies. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Ayush, Sports Authority of India, Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association backed the event. Officials viewed these partnerships as important in presenting yogasana as a structured, rules-based sport for international athletes.

India entered a 122-member squad, creating one of the largest contingents. Competitors lined up in six age bands: Sub-Junior Men and Women for athletes aged 10 to 14 years, Junior Men and Women covering 14 to 18 years, Senior from 18 to 28 years, Senior A from 28 to 35 years, Senior B from 35 to 45 years and Senior C from 45 to 55 years.

Individual champions from several nations influenced the medal table. Japan’s Miyoko Kusunoki struck gold in the Traditional Yogasana Senior C Female category. Nepal’s Durga Panta topped the Forward Bend Senior C Female event, and Kemi Blake of the United States of America took the Back Bend Senior B Male gold. These victories lifted each country’s presence in the standings.

Expressing her delight, an elated Ritu said, "Winning one gold was a dream come true, but winning two is beyond anything I imagined. Every sacrifice, every setback was worth it. I'm really proud of my performance but the credit also goes to the ones who have supported me in this journey."

World Yogasana Championships 2026 detailed results

Traditional events set the tone for the day’s schedule, with the Senior C Female final producing a tight finish. Japan, Oman, Romania and the Netherlands all featured on the podium, with less than three points separating gold from bronze. The scores highlighted the technical depth now present in senior age categories.

Forward Bend individual contests brought more medals for India and Nepal and added podium finishes for Russia, the United States of America, Romania and New Zealand. Joint bronze results appeared in both senior male and female categories, reflecting identical scores for athletes sharing third place.

Back Bend specialists then took the floor, where India, Nepal, Japan, the United States of America, Hong Kong and Botswana all reached medal positions. India’s athletes secured two golds in the Senior C Male and Senior C Female divisions, while Kemi Blake’s performance decided the Senior B Male title.

Twisting Body contests added more honours for India while confirming podium places for Tanzania, Singapore, Argentina, Japan, Nepal, Oman and Russia. These events featured high scores for Indian competitors in both Senior A and Senior C divisions, as well as another gold medal for Argentina’s Nabila Sol Barraza.

The third day of the World Yogasana Championships 2026 closed with India well ahead on 22 gold medals, supported by consistent podium finishes. Argentina, Singapore and Nepal stayed in the chasing pack, while athletes from Japan, the United States of America and several other countries ensured a wide international spread of honours across the main disciplines.