Ahmedabad : India stamped its authority on the inaugural World Yogasana Championships, finishing with a staggering 114 medals, including 102 gold, as the five-day global event concluded at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Monday.
The hosts’ overwhelming dominance highlighted both their competitive strength and the growing institutional push to establish Yogasana as an internationally recognised sport. India accounted for more than half of the 181 gold medals on offer and remained unbeaten across most categories, leaving rival nations far behind in the final standings.
Japan finished a distant second with 11 medals, including three gold, three silver and five bronze, while Argentina secured third place, powered solely by the remarkable performance of athlete Nabila Barraza, who won two gold and three silver medals to emerge as one of the championship’s standout performers.
While India topped the medal tally by a huge margin, neighbouring Nepal emerged as the second-most successful contingent in terms of overall medals won.
Nepal collected 52 medals, one gold, 36 silver and 15 bronze, reflecting the country’s growing footprint in the sport. Uzbekistan followed with 25 medals, including one gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze.
A total of 522 athletes from 79 countries participated in the championship, underlining the expanding global appeal of Yogasana. Thirty-one nations finished on the medals table, while athletes from ten countries managed to secure at least one gold medal.
The championship marked a significant milestone in efforts to transform Yogasana from a traditional Indian wellness practice into a structured competitive sport with global reach.
Organisers described the event as a major step towards securing wider international recognition and strengthening Yogasana’s long-term Olympic aspirations.
Held in Ahmedabad, the designated host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the championship brought together athletes across six age categories ranging from Sub-Junior to Senior C divisions. India fielded a 122-member contingent, the largest at the event.
In a video message, World Yogasana President Swami Ramdev described the championship as the beginning of a global movement rather than an end in itself.
“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 and a path towards health, harmony and human unity,” he said, expressing confidence that Yogasana would eventually find a place on the Olympic stage.
Beyond competition, the event also served as a platform for cultural exchange, with athletes from across continents interacting with practitioners, learning about India’s yogic traditions and experiencing the country’s hospitality.
Among them was Armenia’s Sona Soghayan, who took up yoga during her second pregnancy three years ago. Participating in her first visit to India, she said the experience had strengthened her commitment to promoting yoga back home.
“I will carry many pleasant memories from India. Yoga has helped improve my wellbeing, and I hope to encourage more people in Armenia to take it up,” she said.
The World Yogasana Championship 2026 was supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Ayush, Sports Authority of India, Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism and the Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association.
Organisers said the event demonstrated the sport’s increasing international acceptance and reinforced efforts to expand competitive Yogasana across continents.
The championship also highlighted the rapid internationalisation of the discipline, with athletes from Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas competing for honours in artistic, rhythmic and traditional Yogasana categories.
