Athletes perform at the inaugural Yogasana World Championships, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. (PTI photo)
New Delhi: India finished at the top of the medal table at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships, winning 114 medals, including 102 gold, as the event concluded on Monday in Ahmedabad.Japan ranked second with three gold, three silver and five bronze medals. Argentina ranked third, with its only female player, Nabila Barraza, winning two gold medals and three silver medals.Nepal finished the competition with 52 medals – one gold, 36 silver and 15 bronze – making it the second most successful squad in terms of total medals won. The team ranked fifth in the medal standings.Uzbekistan won 25 medals, including gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze.522 athletes from 79 countries competed in the championship. Athletes from 31 countries won at least one medal, while 10 countries claimed at least one gold medal.Host India fielded a 122-member squad across six age groups: Men’s and Women’s Under (10-14 years), Youth 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 inaugural Yogasana World Championships marked the first edition of the event and represented a step in the effort to establish yogasana as a competitive international sport while furthering its bid for Olympic recognition. The 2026 Yogasana World Championships were supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of SES, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Gujarat Sports Authority, Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Federation – establishing Yogasana as a global sporting discipline and paving the way towards Olympic recognition.
