Ritu Mondal, a 20-year-old athlete from a small village in West Bengal's Hooghly district, claimed two gold medals at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad, becoming the first Indian athlete to achieve the feat at the event. The daughter of a mason, Ritu's double-gold haul has brought her closer to her ultimate ambition: representing India at the Olympics.

A Historic Double at the Inaugural Championship

Competing against the best Yogasana athletes from across the world, Ritu delivered performances that showcased exceptional balance, flexibility, strength, and precision. Her victories at the first-ever edition of the World Yogasana Championships are particularly significant — they establish her as a benchmark for the sport at the global level, at a moment when Yogasana is gaining international recognition.

Her family — parents and elder brother Gautam — travelled to Ahmedabad to witness her triumph, and were visibly overcome with emotion as she celebrated draped in the Indian tricolour.

From Hooghly to the World Stage

Ritu's path to the podium has been shaped by financial hardship and familial sacrifice. Her father's work as a mason has been the household's primary income, yet her family backed her sporting ambitions without reservation. 'My father works as a mason, and despite our financial difficulties, my family always supported my dreams,' she said. 'I spent years training and practising Yogasana while many others my age were doing different things. There were challenges, but I never gave up because I believed in my goal.'

Before her international breakthrough, Ritu had already built a credible domestic record, winning bronze medals at both the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai and the Khelo India University Games in Assam. Those performances gave her the competitive grounding to step onto the world stage.

The Brother Who Coaches from Experience

A central figure in Ritu's rise is her elder brother Gautam, himself a former Yogasana athlete who competed at the state level before financial constraints forced him out of the sport. Having since completed a physiotherapy course, Gautam now dedicates much of his time to guiding and training Ritu — channelling his own unfulfilled ambitions into her career.

'My brother is extremely passionate about Yogasana and wants to see me touch the greatest heights in this sport,' Ritu said. 'Maybe that is because he was a Yogasana athlete himself but could not continue due to circumstances. He sees potential in me and constantly pushes me to improve.'

Notably, Gautam's coaching philosophy is built on accountability rather than praise. 'He has never told me, "You are the best athlete" or "You are perfect." Even after a good performance, he tells me, "Well done, but there is still room for improvement. Keep improving. You have a long way to go,"' Ritu recounted. 'That is something I really appreciate about him.'

Scholarship Support and the Road Ahead

Galgotias University provides Ritu with a monthly scholarship of ₹13,000, which covers training expenses and eases financial pressure on her family. 'For athletes, financial support is very important,' she said. 'This scholarship helps me continue my sport without adding pressure on my family. It gives me confidence to focus on my future.'

Her ambitions extend well beyond the current achievement. 'I want to keep representing India in international competitions,' she said. 'My dream is to see Yogasana become part of the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and eventually the Olympics. Winning an Olympic medal for India is my biggest goal.'

As Yogasana seeks inclusion in major multi-sport events, Ritu Mondal's double gold at the sport's first world championship may well be remembered as the moment the discipline announced itself on the global map — and the moment a mason's daughter from Hooghly began writing a story that is far from over.