From Wrestler to World Champion: How Yoga Changed Devanshi Sharma’s Life

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — When Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed International Yoga Day at the United Nations in 2014, it sparked a movement that introduced millions to yoga. For Rajasthan’s Devanshi Sharma, however, that announcement came as a crucial turning point in her life.

Standing atop the podium at the inaugural World Yogasana Championship in Ahmedabad, draped in the Indian tricolour after winning gold in the Senior B Hand Balance Individual category, the Rajasthan Police constable reflected on a journey that began long before Yogasana became a competitive sport.

“I always dreamt of representing India,” Devanshi said. “For nearly 20 years, I carried that dream, but I never knew which path would take me there.” Devanshi’s sacrifice to stay weeks away from her 15-year-old son made the victory even more meaningful.

That path was anything but straightforward. Before yoga entered her life, 36-year-old Devanshi was a wrestler. During her college years, she won medals and hoped the sport would help her build a career. When that did not materialise, she searched for a new direction and enrolled in a diploma course in yoga. The strength developed through wrestling combined naturally with the flexibility yoga demanded, creating a foundation for future success.

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Then came 2014. Inspired by the nationwide momentum generated after PM Modi’s call to celebrate International Yoga Day, Devanshi applied for a yoga instructor’s position under a Jaipur Development Authority initiative. Despite competing against highly qualified candidates, she secured the role and spent the next six years teaching yoga in parks and community spaces across Jaipur.

“It, truly, was a turning point. When I think about that today, it gives me goosebumps, I was vulnerable, trying to find a way out to do something meaningful and stand on my own feet, and that opportunity was where it all began,” she fondly recalled.

Another chapter unfolded nine years ago when Devanshi joined the Rajasthan Police through the sports quota, fulfilling her mother’s long-cherished dream of seeing her in uniform. Although her wrestling achievements helped her secure the job, she had already moved away from the sport and immersed herself in yoga by then. 

Unsure about how the transition would work within the department, Devanshi found unwavering support from the Rajasthan Police, which promptly allowed her to switch disciplines and compete in Yogasana. The decision proved pivotal, enabling her to continue pursuing a childhood dream of representing India on the international stage. 

That opportunity arrived through the rise of competitive Yogasana and the efforts of Yogasana Bharat and the Yogasana Sports Federation of India. Guided by mentors and encouraged by her husband, Devanshi began competing regularly, dominating police championships and national events. Just weeks before the inaugural World Championship, she won four gold medals at the All-India Police Championship.

But her biggest challenge came away from the mat. Selected for the preparatory camp, Devanshi had to leave behind her 15-month-old toddler for nearly a month. The decision was agonising for a mother whose child had accompanied her to almost every competition.

“My husband kept saying he would quit his job if needed and travel with me,” she said. “But as a family, we decided it was best to leave our son at home. That would also help me focus on my sport,” she reasoned. The sacrifice made the moment of victory even more meaningful as she dedicated her gold medal to her spiritual guides, her family and especially her husband for pushing her to fulfil her dream.