World Yogasana Championships 2026: India lead with 22 gold after Day 3 in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
India are running away with the inaugural World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad, piling up 22 gold medals in three days — a scoreline that underlines just how dominant the host nation is in a sport it is simultaneously trying to take to the Olympics. Ritu Mondal's double gold and a historic field of 122 Indian athletes tell the story of a country betting big on Yogasana's global future.
Key Takeaways
India lead the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026 with 22 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze after Day 3 at EKA Arena, Ahmedabad .
Ritu Mondal won her second gold of the tournament, adding the team event title to her individual Traditional Yogasana Senior A Female gold.
Argentina are second, Singapore third, and Nepal fourth on the overall medals tally.
Nepal , Japan , and the USA each claimed one gold on Day 3 through Durga Panta , Miyoko Kusunoki , and Kemi Blake respectively.
India fields a 122-member contingent across six age categories at the championship.
The event is backed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports , Ministry of Ayush , and SAI , with an explicit goal of Olympic recognition for Yogasana.
Host India extended their commanding lead at the top of the medals tally to 22 gold, five silver, and one bronze after the third day of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026 at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Saturday, 6 June. Nepal, Japan, and the United States of America each claimed a gold medal on the day, adding fresh competitive colour to the standings.
India Dominate Across Age Categories
India won medals in virtually every event across all six age categories for the third consecutive day, maintaining a grip on the competition that few rivals have been able to challenge. The host contingent fields 122 athletes competing across Sub-Junior (10–14 years), Junior (14–18 years), Senior (18–28 years), Senior A (28–35 years), Senior B (35–45 years), and Senior C (45–55 years) categories.
Ritu Mondal Doubles Her Gold Haul
Ritu Mondal, who had already made history by winning India's first gold in the Traditional Yogasana Senior A Female category, added a team gold on Day 3, taking her personal tally to two. Expressing her delight after the event, she said: 'Winning one gold was a dream come true, but winning two is beyond anything I imagined. Every sacrifice, every setback was worth it. I'm really proud of my performance, but the credit also goes to the ones who have supported me in this journey.'
Key Results From Day 3
Japan's Miyoko Kusunoki claimed gold in the Traditional Yogasana Senior C Female category with a score of 58.28, ahead of Mahua Mondal of Oman. Nepal's Durga Panta took gold in Forward Bend Senior C Female with 44.30, while Kemi Blake of the USA won the Back Bend Senior B Male event with 39.23. India's own Dileep Kumar topped the Forward Bend Senior C Male category with 46.12, and Anurag Malik led the Twisting Body Senior A Male event with 42.61. Argentina's Nabila Sol Barraza won the Twisting Body Senior A Female event with 43.77.
How the Medals Tally Stands
Argentina climbed to second place overall, powered by Barraza's two gold and two silver medals. Singapore slipped to third with two gold and two bronze, while Nepal emerged as one of the biggest movers of the day, rising to fourth with one gold, six silver, and three bronze medals.
Significance of the Championship
The inaugural World Yogasana Championships is backed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Ministry of Ayush, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism, and the Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association. Organisers describe the event as a landmark step in transforming an ancient Indian practice into a globally competitive discipline, with a stated pathway toward recognition within the Olympic movement. Competition continues through the remaining days, with India's medal lead likely to grow further.
Point of View
But the real test will come when the field deepens and India can no longer rely on sheer volume of athletes across age categories. The push for Olympic recognition is the long game here, and a dominant home performance, while expected, helps build the narrative of universality that the International Olympic Committee demands.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Yogasana Championships 2026?
The World Yogasana Championships 2026 is the inaugural edition of a global competitive Yogasana tournament being held at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, India. The event, supported by the Indian government, aims to establish Yogasana as a recognised international sport and advance its case for Olympic inclusion.
How many gold medals has India won at the World Yogasana Championships 2026?
India had won 22 gold medals, along with five silver and one bronze, after the third day of competition on 6 June 2026. The host nation has topped the medals tally on each of the three days so far.
Who is Ritu Mondal and why is she significant at this championship?
Ritu Mondal is an Indian Yogasana athlete who won the country's first gold medal of the tournament in the Traditional Yogasana Senior A Female category, then added a team gold on Day 3. She is one of the standout performers of the inaugural championship.
Which countries are in the top four of the medals tally?
India lead the tally with 22 gold, followed by Argentina in second, Singapore in third, and Nepal in fourth place. Nepal was the biggest mover on Day 3, rising to fourth with one gold, six silver, and three bronze medals.
What is the significance of Yogasana's push for Olympic recognition?
The World Yogasana Championships is positioned as a key step in securing Olympic recognition for the sport, transforming a traditional Indian practice into a globally governed competitive discipline. The event is backed by India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Ayush, and the Sports Authority of India.
