Ahmedabad, June 8 (IANS) Hosts India signed off the inaugural World Yogasana Championships campaign with 114 medals that included a century of gold (102) to underline their domination at the EKA Arena here on Monday. Second-placed Japan were a distant second with three gold, three silver, and five bronze, with Argentina taking the third spot thanks to their lone athlete, Nabila Barraza’s exploits of two gold and three silver.

Neighbours Nepal were the second most successful contingent in terms of number of medals won as they clinched a total of 52 medals, including one gold, 36 silver, and 15 bronze to finish fifth on the medal standings. Uzbekistan finished with 25 medals, including one gold, 13 silver, and 11 bronze.

In all, a total of 522 athletes from 79 countries participated in the Championships, with 31 of them winning at least one medal each. Ten of those managed to win at least one gold medal.

The inaugural World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad, the venue of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, were a landmark event that marked a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana, transforming an ancient Indian practice into a globally competitive sporting discipline while strengthening its pathway towards recognition within the Olympic movement.

The World Yogasana Championship 2026 was supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Ministry of Ayush, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism, and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association — establishing Yogasana as a global sporting discipline and paving the way towards Olympic recognition.

Hosts, India had fielded a 122-member contingent, with athletes competing across six age categories – Sub-Junior Men and Women (10-14 years), Junior Men and Women (14-18 years), Senior (18-28 years), Senior A (28-35 years), Senior B (35-45 years), and Senior C (45-55 years).

In a video message, Yogrishi Swami Ramdevi Ji Maharaj, President, World Yogasana, termed the World Yogasana Championship as the beginning of a global movement. “World Yogasana Championship is not the destination; it is the beginning of a global movement. Yoga is not merely a sport—it is a way of life, a path to health, harmony, peace, and human unity. Every athlete here is not just a champion, but an ambassador of yoga to the world.

“Today we celebrate medals and champions, but tomorrow we must create a world connected through yoga. I firmly believe that the journey which began here will one day take Yogasana to the Olympic stage and inspire generations across the globe,” he said.

The five-day championships proved to be a melting pot of cultures, where athletes enjoyed the great hospitality in India and also learnt about the history and journey of Yogasana.

Armenia’s Sona Soghayan, who took up yoga during her second pregnancy three years back, was amazed to see the sport getting such a huge platform in India. “I will carry a lot of pleasant memories from my first visit to India. I hope to spread the concept of yoga among my friends after going back to Armenia, as this sport helps a lot to maintain our well-being.

Results:

Artistic Pair

Sub Junior Female: Gold — Ishika Guchhait & Ishanvi (India) 90.89, Silver — Niya Vijayvargiya & Aarohi Lokhande (Zambia) 82.38, Bronze — Renka Aoki & Ichika Shimizu (Japan) 60.34

Junior Female: Gold — Deepa Lodhi & Sima Niopane (India) 90.42, Silver — Sweakshya Thapa & Pragya Gautam (Nepal) 56.39, Bronze — Tasila Blessings Phiri & Deborah (Zambia) 41.30

Junior Male: Gold — Ayush Bhowmik & Om Dehankar (India) 91.03, Silver — Mukheshkar Rajan & Pratheesh Sanjeewakumar (Sri Lanka) 33.08, Bronze — Kanna Singh Khadka & Sandesh Dhital (Nepal) 20.27

Rhythmic Pair

Senior Female: Gold — Indu Mathuria & Devi (India) 71.77, Silver — Djumanova Aliya Abubakir & Ansatbaeva Aysulu Arislan (Uzbekistan) 68.84, Bronze — Charuni Nikeshala Keeripitiya Gamethige & Saumya Sewmini Gurugamage (Sri Lanka) & Manar Mohammed Al Maskari & Sreya Nagasubramanian (Oman) 23.05

Leg Balance Individual

Sub Junior Female: Gold — Salini Dey (India) 45.00, Silver — Sumanta (Nepal) 33.33, Bronze — Aarohi Lokhande (Zambia) 32.84

Hand Balance Individual

Sub Junior Male: Gold — Arthav Singh Negi (India) 48.08, Silver — Prayaas Jung Chauhan (Nepal) 40.05, Bronze — Pranad Rathnakumar (Sri Lanka) 33.39

Senior Female: Gold — Shilpa Das (India) 45.79, Silver — Aizhan Kuanyshbayeva (Kazakhstan) 39.69, Chadian Pariyar (Nepal) 35.05

Back Bend Individual

Sub Junior Male: Gold — Gokarna Sharma (India) 48.25, Silver — Yaatheesh Krishanthan (Sri Lanka) 35.90, Bronze — Timothy James (Romania) 32.18

Sub Junior Female: Gold — Risha Shetty (India) 46.75, Silver — Yashvi Babariya (Oman) 43.39, Bronze — Sonam Wangmo Tamang (Nepal) 40.38

Junior Male: Gold — Raj Cajole (India) 46.50, Silver — Nibisun Tamang (Nepal) 36.83, Bronze — Jay Rajesh Sonja (Oman) 31.76

Junior Female: Gold — Anika Rana (India) 45.33, Silver — Priya Gharti Chhetri (Nepal) 36.79, Bronze — Thuvesha Ramesh (Sri Lanka) 36.23

Twisting Body Individual

Junior Male: Gold — Adarsh (India) 47.83, Silver — Alikhon Rakhmano (Uzbekistan) 37.76, Bronze — Paranjay Sanjeev Vyas (Oman) 35.39

Senior Male: Gold — Subhajit Karmakar (India) 45.42, Silver — Alan (Uzbekistan) 39.73, Bronze — Arkan Fauzan Riyanto (Indonesia) 38.09

Senior Female: Gold — Madhu Verma (India) 44.08, Silver — Ansatbaeva Aysulu Arislan (Uzbekistan) 37.39, Bronze — Sreya Nagasubramaniam (Oman) 36.79

Supine Individual

Junior Male: Gold — Drona (India) 37.91, Silver — Babin Shrestha (Nepal) 35.44, Bronze — Jay Rajesh Soneji (Oman) 33.64

Senior Female: Gold — Riya (India) 42.48, Silver — Asian Kuanyshbayeva (Kazakhstan) 41.30, Bronze — Djumanova Akiya Abubakir kizi (Uzbekistan) 39.84.

–IANS

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