India make flying start with 5 gold medals

Hosts India delivered a commanding performance in the inaugural World Yogasana Championships 2026, clinching five of the first six gold medals on offer to underline their dominance in the sport’s biggest-ever global showcase at the Eka Arena here on Friday.

West Bengal’s Abhay Burman (Senior Male) and Ritu Mondal (Senior Female) set the tone for the hosts with gold medal-winning performances in the Traditional Yogasana category, sparking a remarkable run for the Indian contingent before an enthusiastic home crowd.

Burman secured India’s first gold medal of the world yogasana championships with a score of 63.42 points. He was comfortably ahead of Indonesia’s Arkan Riyanto (57.23), who claimed silver, while Uzbekistan’s Alan took home the bronze medal with 53.21 points.

Reflecting on his historic achievement, Burman said, “Winning the first gold medal of the inaugural World Yogasana Championships for India is a moment I will cherish forever. Competing at home in front of such passionate supporters gave me immense confidence, and I am proud to contribute to India’s strong start in this historic event.” Ritu Mondal followed with another gold for India in the Senior Female category, scoring 64.33 points. Kazakhstan’s Aizhan Kuanyshbayeva (58.97) secured silver, while Hong Kong’s Lam Nga Man (56.98) earned bronze.

Describing the significance of the occasion, Mondal said, “This championship is a landmark moment for every Yogasana athlete. Winning a medal for India is a dream come true. I began training at the age of 12, and after eight years of hard work and dedication, achieving this at 20 makes the moment even more special.