U.S. Mother-Daughter Duo Win World Yogasana Medals

AHMEDABAD-American mother-daughter duo Kemi Blake and Kimani Blake have highlighted their connection with India after winning medals at the World Yogasana Championships in Ahmedabad.

Competing at EKA Arena against top yogasana athletes from around the world, 35-year-old Kemi Blake won gold in the Back Bend Individual category, while her 16-year-old daughter, Kimani Blake, secured bronze in the Junior Artistic Individual event

Their achievements carried added significance because the pair trained alongside Indian athletes at a Sports Authority of India (SAI) training center in Ahmedabad ahead of the championships.

Kemi said she never expected to compete at the World Yogasana Championships despite practicing yoga for many years.

“Though, I have been practicing yoga for many years now, I never thought of coming to compete in World Yogasana Championships here as I thought I was not good enough to compete against the Indian players. But one fellow Romanian player wrote to me asking me to come and participate as she used to follow my Instagram page and also some coaches from India encouraged me. And I am happy that I could win the gold medal here,” Kemi told SAI Media.

Kemi said yoga initially began as a way to improve flexibility while training as a professional contortionist but eventually became a life-changing discipline.

“I started yoga to improve flexibility for the performances I was training for. But as I started doing yoga regularly, it gave me purpose and stability. I started eating right, began sleeping on the floor and my outlook towards life changed,” she said.

She later pursued formal yoga training and spent time in India studying advanced techniques before developing her own coaching programme focused on healing and self-discovery.

The trip to India also inspired Kimani to compete at the championships.

“I had learnt the basics from her and also practiced it regularly as it helps me calm down easily. But I seriously started training for the world championships three weeks ago. I am extremely happy that I could win a bronze medal here,” Kimani said.

Kemi said the support she received from Indian athletes and coaches left a lasting impression.

“When we landed here, our bags did not arrive in time. But the Indian team which was training at the SAI centre here welcomed us and even taught us a few things. Even when I was warming up before my event, one of them told me about the mistakes I was making and that helped me,” she said.

Looking ahead, Kemi expressed hope that yogasana will eventually become an Olympic sport.

“Plenty of people practice yoga but yogasana as a sport is completely different in a way. The focus and precision required is very different from practicing yoga for well-being and I am willing to play any role required to see Yogasana at the Olympics,” she added. (IANS)