Hosts India capture five of the first six gold medals in Ahmedabad as Abhay Burman, Ritu Mondal, Ritu Thakur, Roshan Thapa and Jyoti Deurkar headline a dominant opening day
Ahmedabad: India made a powerful statement at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026, securing five of the first six gold medals and reinforcing its status as the sport’s leading force on the global stage.
The hosts opened their campaign in style as Abhay Burman clinched gold in the Traditional Yogasana Senior Male category with 63.42 points, ahead of Indonesia’s Arkan Riyanto and Uzbekistan’s Alan. Shortly afterwards, Ritu Mondal topped the Senior Female division with 64.33 points.
“Winning the first gold medal of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships for India is a moment I will cherish forever,” Burman said.
Mondal, who began training at age 12, described the triumph as “a dream come true” after eight years of dedication.
India’s only missed gold came in the Senior A Male category, where Singapore’s Nathaniel Tan Leong An finished first, while India’s Sumir Gnawali secured bronze.
However, the hosts quickly regained momentum. Ritu Thakur won gold in Senior A Female, edging Argentina’s Nabila Sol Barraza. Roshan Thapa then dominated the Senior B Male event with 65.67 points, while Jyoti Deurkar added another title in the Twisting Body Individual Senior B Female category.
Other medal winners included Karimu Swafi (Tanzania), Aizhan Kuanyshbayeva (Kazakhstan), Lam Nga Man (Hong Kong), Awuor Saulinha (Kenya), Md Mamun Khan Babu (Bangladesh), Danil Rykov (Kyrgyzstan), Olimuthu Navamani (Oman) and Saori Kyuei (Japan).
Backed by a 122-member contingent, India’s dominant start also strengthens Yogasana’s growing push for global recognition and eventual Olympic inclusion.
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