Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday, 13 June 2026 congratulated two Goan athletes who won gold medals at the World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, hailing their victories as a proud moment for the state and the nation.

Context

Pampam Devi claimed gold in the Senior C Category – Hand Stand Individual Event, while Vidhyaat Lotlikar secured gold in the Sub-Junior Supine Individual Event. Chief Minister Sawant extended his 'heartiest congratulations' to both athletes, noting their achievement as a reflection of Goa's growing footprint in competitive yogasana.

Sawant also recognised two officials from Goa who served at the championship: Sulochana Barazankar, who officiated as a Judge, and Manthan Naik, who contributed as a TSR Official. The acknowledgement of both athletes and officials underscores the state's broader involvement beyond the competition floor.

Policy Backdrop

India's push to mainstream yoga as a competitive discipline dates to 2015, when the country spearheaded the adoption of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations. In the years that followed, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recognised yogasana competitions under national federations, laying the groundwork for structured championships at the domestic and international level.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city, has emerged as a regular host for national and international sporting events, and the World Yogasana Sports Championship continues that tradition. For smaller states like Goa, such platforms offer an opportunity to gain visibility in disciplines outside conventional athletics, where larger states typically dominate.

Stakeholders and Impact

The victories by Pampam Devi and Vidhyaat Lotlikar are significant for Goa's sporting community, which fields athletes in niche disciplines at national and international platforms despite the state's relatively small population. Recognition from the Chief Minister's office provides institutional encouragement to young practitioners and coaches investing in yogasana training.

The dual roles of Sulochana Barazankar and Manthan Naik as championship officials also signal that Goa is building administrative and technical capacity in the sport — not just competitive depth — which is essential for long-term development of any discipline.

What's Next

With two gold medals and official representation at the World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026, Goa's performance is likely to draw attention to the state's sports infrastructure needs in upcoming policy discussions. Chief Minister Sawant's public acknowledgement may signal intent to strengthen support for yogasana training facilities and athlete development programmes in the state.

Observers will watch whether Goa's next state budget or sports policy update includes dedicated allocations for yogasana infrastructure, and whether the current medal-winning athletes receive formal state recognition or financial incentives under existing sports promotion schemes.