The first-ever World Yogasana Championships 2026 are set to begin in Ahmedabad, featuring over 400 athletes from more than 60 countries competing across six age categories. According to latest reports, the landmark event will feature athletes from the USA, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan among others, marking a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana. The championship is supported by the Sports Ministry, Ministry of Ayush, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Authority of Gujarat, Gujarat Tourism and Gujarat Yogasana Sports Association, with India fielding a 122-member contingent as the host nation.
Udit Sheth, President of Yogasana Bharat and Vice President of World Yogasana, has been instrumental in transforming Yogasana from a traditional practice into a competitive sport. As reported by NDTV Profit, Sheth began practicing yoga in 2012 and became involved in organized promotion through the federation in 2019. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of TransStadia Group and has been practicing yoga for nearly 14 years. The transformation from yoga to Yogasana involves distinguishing between the broader yogic system and the specific physical practice of asanas.
The championship will feature athletes competing across six age categories including 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). According to latest reports, the event represents a significant milestone as Yogasana receives recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia and aims for inclusion in the Commonwealth Games by 2030. The championship will introduce an electronic scoring system for the first time globally, ensuring transparency, consistency and judging standards. The event will showcase individual events, artistic events and create a television-friendly format to enhance audience engagement and global appeal.
The federation has established 272 classified asanas ranked by difficulty and created comprehensive technical rules in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India. As reported by NDTV Profit, India currently has a presence in all 700 districts with more than 250,000 registered athletes within the federation system. Sheth emphasized that while India possesses significant infrastructure with 84 SAI centers and 280+ stadiums, the challenge lies in ensuring effective utilization through stronger coach development systems and athlete development programs.
The long-term objective includes Olympic inclusion by 2032 as a demonstration sport, with Sheth emphasizing the need for strong international federations, transparent judging systems, and broad international participation. According to NDTV Profit, the global yoga economy is estimated at ₹9,000 crore ($110 billion) with 300 million global practitioners and 110 million regular Indian practitioners. Speaking on the eve of the championships, Udit Sheth stated that hosting the pioneering World Yogasana Championship at Eka Arena, Ahmedabad represents India's greatest contribution to the world of sports, while Dr Jaideep Arya, general secretary of World Yogasana, described the event as more than a competition - a defining moment in the evolution of Yogasana as a global sport.
