Tashkent: Yoga took centre stage as a symbol of cultural exchange between India and Uzbekistan during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tashkent on August 30, with the Prime Minister witnessing a special yoga session involving 52 practitioners from Uzbekistan.
The session offered a unique cultural element to Modi’s engagement in the Central Asian country and highlighted the increasing interest in yoga among people in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan loves Yoga! pic.twitter.com/1AtlHCN0kF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 30, 2026
A notable feature of the programme was the participation of six members of the Yoga Federation of Uzbekistan who had represented their country at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026 in Ahmedabad in June.
The six practitioners — Rakhmanov Kamol Erkinovich, Rakhmanov Alixon Kamoladinovich, Akhunova Dinara Erkinovna, Djumānova Aliya Abubakir kizi, Ansatbayeva Aysulu Arislan kizi and Shakirov Redjep Dmitrievich — had delivered an impressive performance at the international championship.
Together, they secured 18 medals, including one gold, 14 silver and three bronze medals. The Uzbekistan contingent as a whole won 25 medals across different categories at the Ahmedabad championship.
Their participation in the Tashkent yoga demonstration provided a direct connection between Uzbekistan’s success at the global Yogasana event and the expanding cultural and sporting exchanges between the two countries.
The event also underlined the growing role of yoga and Yogasana in bringing people from India and Uzbekistan closer. Beyond its traditional and cultural significance, Yogasana is increasingly finding space in international sporting events, creating new opportunities for people-to-people connections.
The World Yogasana Championship held in Ahmedabad marked an important step in taking Yogasana to a global competitive platform. With participants from several countries competing in different categories, the event showcased the international reach of the discipline and India’s contribution towards promoting yoga and Yogasana across the world.
The Tashkent session further reinforced the idea that yoga can serve not only as a wellness practice but also as a common cultural thread connecting India with the wider global community.
