Ahmedabad, June 5: Host nation India has made a remarkable start at the inaugural World Yoga Championship held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, securing five out of six gold medals.
Abhay Barman from West Bengal won gold in the senior men’s traditional yoga category, scoring 63.42 points. He brought home the first gold medal for India at this championship. Indonesia’s Arkan Riyanto took silver with 57.23 points, while Uzbekistan’s Alan secured bronze with a score of 53.21.
In the senior women’s category, Ritu Mandal also clinched gold for India, achieving a score of 64.33. Kazakhstan’s Aizhan Kuanishbayeva earned silver with 58.97 points, and Hong Kong’s Lam Nga Man took bronze with 56.98 points.
After winning gold, Barman expressed, “Winning the first gold medal for India at the inaugural World Yoga Championship is a moment I will always cherish. Competing in my own country in front of such enthusiastic supporters has boosted my confidence. I am proud to contribute to India’s strong start in this historic event.”
Ritu shared her excitement, stating, “This championship is a memorable moment for every yoga athlete. Winning a medal for India feels like a dream come true. I started training at the age of 12, and achieving this milestone after eight years of hard work is incredibly special. I want to thank my coach, manager, and the entire team for guiding and supporting me throughout this journey.”
India did not secure a gold medal in the senior A men’s category, which was the only event where they missed out. Singapore’s Nathaniel Tan Liong En won gold with a score of 55.37, while Tanzania’s Karim Swafi took silver with 54.99 points, and India’s Sameer Ganawali earned bronze with 54.00 points.
In the senior A women’s category, Ritu Thakur won gold with a score of 63.50. Argentina’s Nabila Sol Baraja claimed silver with 62.04 points, and Kenya’s Avuor Saulinha took bronze. Roshan Thapa secured gold in the senior B men’s category with a score of 65.67, while Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mamun Khan Babu won silver with 58.57 points, and Kyrgyzstan’s Denil Raikov earned bronze with 53.55 points.
From the host team, Jyoti Deurkar won gold in the twisting body individual senior B women’s category, scoring 46.14 points, surpassing Oman’s Olimuthu Navamani and Japan’s Saori Kuei. Navamani received silver with 38.66 points, while Kuei took bronze with 38.41 points.
The World Yoga Championship 2026 is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of AYUSH, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism, and the Gujarat Yoga Sports Association. This collaboration demonstrates a commitment to establishing yoga as a global sport and advancing its Olympic aspirations. A total of 122 participants from India are competing in 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).
The World Yoga Championship 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 8.
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