Domination at World Yogasana Championships highlights India’s robust grassroots development

Ahmedabad, Jun 12: India’s dominance at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships here this week eloquently reflected in the medal tally, but perhaps the most encouraging takeaway for the host nation were a clutch of ‘kids’ who have the potential to keep the tri-colour fluttering for years to come. Meet the would-be Gen Z of Indian yogasana.

While India finished the world championships with a staggering 102 gold medals, as per a statement, nearly half of them came from the country’s youngest competitors. India’s junior and sub-junior athletes contributed 46 gold medals, underlining the strength of the grassroots yogasana ecosystem.
Fronting the face of future India were 14-year-old Ishika Guchhait of Delhi and 12-year-old Sanwita Banerjee of Durgapur (West Bengal), whose gold-medal-winning performance in the sub-Junior girls’ rhythmic pair event caught the attention of many.
Competing against athletes from other 78 countries, the young duo displayed a level of composure, synchronisation and technical excellence that belied their age. Their success was not merely another medal for India. It was evidence of a strong talent pipeline that could keep the country at the forefront of the sport for years to come.

For Jaideep Arya, Secretary General of World Yogasana and Yogasana Bharat, the performances of India’s junior athletes were among the most significant outcomes of the championship.
“The performance of India’s junior and sub-junior athletes at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad is truly inspiring. Winning 46 gold medals out of India’s total 102 gold medals not only demonstrates exceptional talent and dedication, but it also reflects the strong foundation that has been built for yogasana sport in this country,” Arya said.

“What is most encouraging is that these achievements have come from our youngest athletes. Their success reflects the effectiveness of our grassroots development and coaching systems and the growing acceptance of Yogasana as a competitive sport.”
In a discipline where precision, flexibility, strength and artistic expression must come together seamlessly, Ishika and Sanwita performed with remarkable confidence on the biggest stage of their young careers.

Their journey to world championship glory, however, began far away from the arc lights at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.
For Ishika, yoga was first introduced at home. Her family originally hails from Midnapore district in West Bengal before settling in Delhi. Her father earns a livelihood selling paan leaves, while her mother conducts yoga classes.