World Yogasana Championship: Pune's golden girl Niral Wadekar wins two titles
Amdavad, June 8
For most 13-year-olds, competing on the world stage would be an intimidating prospect. For India's Niral Wadekar, it was an opportunity to test herself against the best and pursue a dream that stretches far beyond the competition arena.
Niral has achieved her dream by winning two gold medals at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026. She clinched the top spot on the podium in both the Sub-Junior Individual Hand Stand and the Sub-Junior Individual Traditional Group categories.
Representing India at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Amdavad, Gujarat, from June 4 to 8, the young athlete entered the tournament with clear goals -- to deliver her best performance, avoid mistakes, and stand atop the podium with a gold medal around her neck, which she achieved by winning not just one, but 2 Gold Medals in the 1st World Yogasana Championship 2026.
After bagging two gold medals, Niral expressed her feelings, "Every athlete participating wants to win, and I am no different. I expected to give my best performance and fight for a gold medal, which I earned by winning not just one, but two gold medals. I am very happy that I have made myself, my family, and my country proud."
"When we practice, there is no pressure, and everything feels normal. But when we step onto the competition stage, especially at a world championship, the pressure is different. There are many people watching, and sometimes it can make you nervous, but that is also what makes competing exciting," she said.
Away from Yogasana, Niral has another ambition that reaches even higher. "My dream is to become a fighter pilot one day. At the same time, I want to continue my journey in Yogasana and achieve more for India. Both are very important dreams for me," she said.
Despite her young age, Niral views the championship as an opportunity to learn and grow as an athlete. "This is a big experience for me. I want to learn from other athletes, improve myself, and enjoy every moment of representing India," she added. As athletes from across the globe gather in Amdavad for the historic championship, Niral took to the mat carrying the hopes of a young competitor determined to make her mark while proving that age is no barrier to dreaming big.
The World Yogasana Championship 2026 is the inaugural edition of the world meet being organised by World Yogasana, the international governing body for Yogasana. The organisation is committed to promoting and developing Yogasana as a competitive sport globally. World Yogasana works towards standardising the sport, conducting international championships, supporting national federations, and fostering participation across age groups while preserving the essence and heritage of yoga.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is absolutely wonderful! What makes me most happy is that Yogasana is finally getting its due recognition as a competitive sport on the world stage. It's our ancient heritage, and seeing a young girl from Pune excel makes every Indian proud. But I also hope the government supports more such grassroots talent - we need more training facilities in smaller towns too.
As someone from the US, I'm amazed! Yogasana as a competitive sport sounds fascinating. Niral's composure at 13 is incredible - she's handling world championship pressure like a seasoned athlete. And wanting to be a fighter pilot too? That girl has serious ambition! Inspiring story all the way from Gujarat. Congratulations to India on her success! ✨
Amazing performance by our young yogini! But let's also acknowledge her parents and coaches who must have worked tirelessly. This is what happens when traditional practices meet modern sporting infrastructure. However, I hope World Yogasana ensures the standardization doesn't dilute the spiritual essence of yoga - we must preserve its soul even while making it a competitive sport.
My God, two gold medals at the world level! And she's just 13! 😍 That quote about pressure is so mature - "when we practice there is no pressure, but on stage..." That's wisdom beyond her years. She represents everything beautiful about India - our ancient wisdom combined with modern ambition. Fighter pilot AND yogasana champion? Sky is truly the limit for this girl! 🚀
Proud moment indeed! But I have a small concern - at
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