US Yoga Team Travels To India For Inaugural World Yogasana Championship In Ahmedabad
Washington: A team of Yogasana athletes from the United States is set to travel to India to participate in the first-ever World Yogasana Championship, which will take place in Ahmedabad from June 4 to June 8. The event marks a significant milestone in the growing recognition of Yogasana as a competitive sport on the global stage.
Team USA Delegation Announced
According to a press release issued by Yoga Association USA, the official Team USA delegation has been announced by the United States Yogasana Sports Federation (USYSF) in collaboration with the United States Yoga Association (USYA) and World Yogasana. The 11-member American contingent will be led by Balwinder Singh, founder and president of both Yoga Association USA and USYSF.
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The athletes earned their places on the national team after participating in quarterfinal selection trials held in Connecticut in April. The delegation includes competitors ranging from 10 to 55 years of age, who will participate across youth and senior divisions.
Visit to Indian Consulate Before Departure
Before leaving for India, members of the US Yogasana team visited the Consulate General of India in New York, where they met Deputy Consul General Vishal Harsh. During the interaction, the Indian mission extended its best wishes to the athletes ahead of the championship.
Athletes from More Than 60 Nations Expected
The championship is expected to attract athletes, officials, and delegates from over 60 countries. Organisers view the event as an important step toward establishing Yogasana as a globally recognised competitive discipline while promoting international cooperation, wellness, and cultural exchange.
Participants will compete in seven official Yogasana disciplines, including artistic and rhythmic categories. Judging will focus on factors such as strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and precision, following internationally standardised evaluation criteria.
Yoga Beyond Physical Exercise
Among the members of the US delegation is certified yoga instructor Priti Dhariwal, who highlighted the broader significance of yoga. She described yoga as a practice that helps individuals cultivate inner peace and happiness rather than being limited to physical activity alone.
Dhariwal has spent more than 20 years working with senior citizens in Bergen County, New Jersey, helping improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through yoga, meditation, and laughter yoga. Her students include a 106-year-old practitioner who continues to participate in chair yoga and meditation sessions, as well as a 92-year-old student who remains active in mat-based yoga practice.
Growing Global Push for Competitive Yogasana
The Ahmedabad championship is the first World Yogasana Championship and forms part of broader efforts to establish Yogasana as a recognised international sport. The event is expected to feature more than 500 athletes from over 60 nations and is also being viewed as a step toward future inclusion of Yogasana in major multi-sport events and potentially the Olympic Games. PTI reported that the championship represents a major development in the international expansion of the sport.
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