India dominated the opening day of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026 at the Eka Arena on Friday (June 5). The hosts won five of the first six gold medals on offer.
The strong early results set India apart in the event's biggest global showcase so far. A large home crowd watched the first set of finals across several senior categories.
The only gold India missed came in the Senior A Male category. Singapore's Nathaniel Tan Leong An won with 55.37 points. Tanzania's Karimu Swafi took silver with 54.99 points. India's Sumir Gnawali earned bronze after scoring 54.00 points. The result stopped India from completing a clean sweep.
World Yogasana Championships 2026: Abhay Burman and Ritu Mondal lead India
West Bengal's Abhay Burman gave India an early lift in the Traditional Yogasana Senior Male category. Burman scored
63.42 points for the first Indian gold. Indonesia's Arkan Riyanto finished second with 57.23 points. Uzbekistan's Alan placed third after scoring 53.21 points.
Reflecting on the win, Burman said, "Winning the first gold medal of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships for India is a moment I will cherish forever. Competing at home in front of such passionate supporters gave me immense confidence, and I am proud to contribute to Indias strong start in this historic event.\"
Ritu Mondal then added another gold for India in the Traditional Yogasana Senior Female category. Mondal posted 64.33 points in the final. Kazakhstan's Aizhan Kuanyshbayeva claimed silver with 58.97 points. Hong Kong's Lam Nga Man secured bronze after scoring 56.98 points.
Mondal said, \"This championship is a landmark moment for every Yogasana athlete. Winning a medal for India is a dream come true. I began training at the age of 12, and after eight years of hard work and dedication, achieving this at 20 makes the moment even more special.I would like to thank my coach, manager, and the entire team for guiding and supporting me throughout this journey.\"
World Yogasana Championships 2026: More Indian golds across Senior A and Senior B
India moved back to gold through Ritu Thakur in the Senior A Female category. Thakur scored 63.50 points to take the top spot. Argentina's Nabila Sol Barraza followed with 62.04 points for silver. Kenya's Awuor Saulinha finished third to take bronze in the same event.
Roshan Thapa extended India's lead by winning the Senior B Male category. Thapa delivered a score of 65.67 points. Bangladesh's Md Mamun Khan Babu took silver with 58.57 points. Kyrgyzstan's Danil Rykov ended third after recording 53.55 points.
Jyoti Deurkar secured another gold for the hosts in the Twisting Body Individual Senior B Female category. Deurkar scored 46.14 points to finish first. Oman's Olimuthu Navamani finished second. Japan's Saori Kyuei claimed third as India closed its early set of finals.
World Yogasana Championships 2026: Event support and India contingent details
The inaugural championships marked a key stage for Yogasana as a competitive sport. Organisers positioned it as a step in widening global acceptance. The event is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Ministry of Ayush. Support also includes Sports Authority of India SAI and Gujarat bodies.
Other supporting organisations include Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association. India has fielded a 122-member contingent for the championships. Athletes are competing in six age categories, ranging from Sub-Junior 10-14 years to Senior C 45-55 years. Events cover men's and women's divisions across each group.
With inputs from PTI
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