- Over 500 athletes from 78 countries participated
- Federation plans global league, continental qualification system to expand footprints
Ahmedabad : After the success of the inaugural World Yogasana Championship that brought together 500 athletes from 78 countries, Yogasana Bharat has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to expand the sport to 150 nations, launch an international league structure and pursue inclusion in major multi-sport events, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the championship in Ahmedabad, Yogasana Bharat President and World Yogasana Vice-President Udit Sheth described the event as a turning point in the evolution of yoga from a traditional wellness practice into a structured competitive sport.
“The journey of Yogasana is from Ashram to Arena,” Sheth said, adding that the successful participation of athletes from across continents demonstrates the sport’s growing global appeal.
Hosted at the TransStadia Arena, the championship has attracted more than 500 athletes, 90 technical officials and judges, around 150 learning and development officers and over 100 volunteers. Despite Ahmedabad’s soaring temperatures, competitions have been conducted under world-class indoor conditions.
For the federation, however, the championship is only the beginning.
“Our goal is to take Yogasana to 150 countries as soon as possible through a structured approach. The federation is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and an expanding network of athletes and coaches to build the sport’s presence across continents, he said.
Sheth, said the widespread global acceptance of yoga provides a strong foundation for the sport’s expansion.
“Yoga already exists in almost every country. What we need to do now is build the sporting ecosystem around it by training athletes, coaches, judges and technical officials,” he said.
To sustain the sport’s growth, the federation is planning a professional league model inspired by some of the world’s most successful sporting competitions. Sheth said the proposed league would initially begin with a limited number of teams before expanding internationally.
“We will start small, perhaps with eight teams, but the idea is to grow rapidly. Eventually we want to create leagues across continents and build a global pyramid structure, culminating in a Champions League-style competition,” he said.
The federation also plans to introduce a continental qualification pathway for future World Championships. Rather than allowing unrestricted participation, athletes would earn qualification through regional and continental competitions, ensuring that only the highest-performing athletes reach the world stage.
“Future World Championships will feature the elite from each continent. That will improve the quality of competition and make the format more engaging for audiences,” Sheth said.
He said the focus area for organisers is ensuring credibility and transparency in judging. The current championship uses a technical scoring system that evaluates athletes on difficulty levels, execution and precision of asanas. Scores are displayed publicly, while the highest and lowest marks are discarded to minimise bias.
“From next year, judges are expected to be assigned randomly to competition arenas shortly before events begin, a move aimed at further strengthening transparency,” he added.
While India enjoys a natural advantage as the birthplace of yoga, Sheth cautioned against complacency. Several countries, he said, are rapidly developing competitive Yogasana programmes and could emerge as strong challengers within a short period.
“Countries like Argentina, Japan, Mongolia, China and Russia are doing excellent work. Teams that have been training for only a few months today could become world-beaters within two years,” he said.
Tracing the sport’s journey, Sheth said the idea of recognising Yogasana as a competitive discipline date back to a white paper prepared in 2012. The movement gathered momentum following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global promotion of yoga, while the establishment of Yogasana Bharat in 2020 provided an institutional framework for its growth.
Today, the federation sees Yogasana as more than just a sport. Sheth described it as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy, wellness promotion and international engagement.
“Yogasana can become a powerful diplomatic tool. Through the sport, we can connect with countries, sports ministries and institutions while promoting India’s wellness ecosystem and sustainable living practices,” he said.
“This championship is just the beginning. Anew journey has started, and together we must take the sport to greater heights, ” Sheth added.
