Our Bureau
Ahmedabad
Team USA delivered an outstanding performance at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026, held June 4–8 at EKA Arena in Ahmedabad, India, earning a place among the world’s Top 10 nations and bringing home five medals.
Representing the United States under the banner of the United States Yogasana Sports Federation (USYSF), led by Founder and President Mr. Balwinder Singh, the 10-member team competed alongside 522 athletes from 79 countries in one of the largest international Yogasana events ever held.
The U.S. delegation secured one Gold Medal and four Bronze Medals. Kemi Blake earned Gold in the Senior B Back Bend category, while Sanjay Attada won two Bronze Medals. Patrick Fletcher and Kimani Blake each added a Bronze Medal to Team USA’s impressive medal count.
“At 45 years, I hope this Gold reminds people that some of our greatest achievements are still waiting for us,” Kemi Blake, gold medal athlete from Las Vegas said.
Other team athletes, Elena Kangavari, Jeremy Fields, Olga Mysse, Priti Dhariwal, Tejal Joshi, and Veronica Vega also represented the nation with distinction, demonstrating skill, dedication, and sportsmanship on the world stage.
“I never imagined I would stand on the world stage as an athlete representing Team USA. It was a truly rewarding experience, and I am proud to be part of this historic championship. My sincere thanks to World Yogasana, Yogasana Bharat, and especially USYSF for this incredible opportunity.” said New Jersey Athlete Priti Dhariwal, competed in Women’s Senior C Category
Hosted by Yogasana Bharat, World Yogasana, and the Indian Olympic Association, the championship marked a historic step forward for Yogasana as a global competitive sport. Team USA’s strong showing highlights the growing momentum of Yogasana in the United States and reflects the hard work of its athletes, coaches, and supporters.
“This is a proud moment for the United States of America. Our athletes worked extremely hard for months and performed with passion and commitment, traveling to India and competing on the world stage for the first time!”, Balwinder Singh from Connecticut quoted. ” I invite yoga studios, organizations, sponsors and business partners to collaborate with USYSF and support the growth of Yogasana as a sport in America.” “USYSF aims to collaborate to support athletes in national and international yogasana championships, train coaches and judges, providing affordable training.”
