World Yogasana Championships: US Mother-Daughter Duo of Kemi And Kimani Blake Clinch Medals In Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, June 8: Kemi and Kimani Blake from the USA have shared a strong India link after winning medals at the World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad. At EKA Arena this week, 35-year-old Kemi took gold in the Back Bend individual category, while 16-year-old daughter Kimani secured bronze in the Junior Artistic Individual category.

The mother-daughter pair trained at the Sports Authority of India centre in Ahmedabad before the event. They reached India weeks in advance to work with local coaches. Six more US yoga athletes also competed. Kemi said yoga changed her life and helped her manage pressure and daily stress.

World Yogasana Championship: US Duo Star

Kemi first dreamt of being a contortionist. She moved from New York to Las Vegas to train at the Cirque du Soleil academy. Kimani pursued gymnastics and wants to be a professional dancer. Both later turned to yoga to improve flexibility and support their careers.

Kemi said she practised yoga for many years but never planned to compete in India. She felt she was not good enough against Indian players. A Romanian player, who followed her on Instagram, urged her to enter. Indian coaches also encouraged her to join the World Yogasana Championships.

Kemi told SAI Media she began yoga to improve her stage work. Regular practice gave her purpose and stability. She changed her diet, started sleeping on the floor, and felt calmer. She completed a one-year certification with Bilva Yogashala and spent a month in India refining her skills.

After deciding to return to India for the championships, Kemi chose to bring Kimani, who did not want to stay home alone. Kimani had learnt basics from her mother and used yoga to relax. She began serious training for the world event just three weeks before competition.

On arrival in India, their bags were delayed. The Indian team at the SAI centre helped them settle and shared training tips. Kemi said a rival even corrected her warm-up errors before competition. She now hopes yogasana will feature at the Olympics and is ready to support that effort.

Kemi stressed that yogasana as sport is very different from regular yoga. The focus, precision and performance standards are higher for competition. She said many people practise yoga for well-being, but sport requires another level. The medals in Ahmedabad have deepened the duo’s connection with India.