Heena Rajgor Shines as India Extend Lead with 40 Golds at World Yogasana Championships

India continued its overwhelming dominance at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships, with Gujarat’s Heena Rajgor producing one of the standout performances of the tournament as the hosts surged further ahead in the medal standings on the penultimate day of competition.

With an extraordinary haul of 50 medals, including 40 gold, eight silver and two bronze , India remained comfortably at the top of the table, underlining its supremacy in a discipline deeply rooted in the country's cultural heritage.

Among the brightest stars of the day was Heena Rajgor , who delivered a commanding display in the Forward Bend Individual Senior B Female category. The Bhuj-born athlete secured the gold medal with an impressive score of 43.50 points , finishing well ahead of her competitors and drawing loud cheers from the home crowd.

Representing Oman, Preeti Jaimani claimed the silver medal with 38.15 points, while Svetlana Lukashova of Russia and Maya Al Alostath of Jordan shared the bronze.

For Rajgor, the triumph carried special significance. Competing on home soil, she reflected on the journey that transformed her from a struggling competitor into a world champion.

"It is always special to win a gold medal on my home turf. After taking up Yogasana competitively following the Covid period, I initially found it difficult to perform in competitions. Improving my mental focus helped me overcome those challenges and achieve better results," she said.

While India continued to dominate proceedings, other nations also made notable gains. Japan added two more gold medals through Hisashi Watanabe in the Supine Individual Senior B Male category and Tomoka Shimizu in the Leg Balance Individual Senior C Female event. The Japanese contingent now sits second on the medals table with three gold medals and ten medals overall.

Russia also celebrated success as Svetlana Lukashova clinched gold in the Supine Individual Senior B Female category, while Kamolatdin Rakhmanov earned Uzbekistan’s first gold medal of the championships in the Leg Balance Individual Senior C Male event.

With one day of competition remaining, India appears firmly on course for a historic finish, as its athletes continue to set the benchmark in the sport and turn the inaugural World Yogasana Championships into a memorable showcase of national excellence.