India’s Vir Gahrotra Creates History with Gold at Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship

Mumbai - Indian athlete Vir Gahrotra scripted history by winning a gold medal at the Pole and Aerial Sports World Championship in Budapest, Hungary, marking India’s first-ever podium finish at the prestigious global event.

The 16-year-old from Mumbai represented India in the Junior B Amateur Men (15–17 years) Aerial Silks category and outperformed competitors from countries with established aerial sports traditions, including Ukraine, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. His routine stood out for its technical complexity, precision, and artistic execution.

Aerial silks is a performance-based discipline of aerial gymnastics that requires exceptional upper-body strength, endurance, flexibility, and expressive artistry. At the world championship level, routines are judged on technical accuracy, execution quality, and artistic presentation rather than difficulty alone.

Gahrotra’s gold-winning performance impressed the judges with its control, consistency, and composure, even under physical fatigue, earning him the highest overall score in his category.

India made its international debut at the inaugural POSA World Aerial Championships 2025, organised by the Pole Sports & Arts World Federation (POSA). Hosted in Budapest, the event brought together elite pole and aerial athletes from over 40 countries, making it one of the most significant competitions in the sport.

Vir’s triumph represents a landmark achievement for Indian aerial sports, as it is the country’s first gold medal at the championship and a proud moment in the Junior B Men – Amateur Aerial Silks category.

The four-day championship featured world-class rigging standards and was overseen by certified international judges. Disciplines on display included Aerial Silks, Aerial Hoop, Aerial Artistic, and Pole Sport. While the aerial events have concluded, Pole Sport competitions are ongoing, with athletes from around the world continuing to compete.

The Indian contingent was led by head coach Ria Bajaj and coach Masuma Mun, with support from Indian Federation Committee members Shrikant Warankar, Suresh Gandhi, and Pankaj Kunde.

“This debut marks a powerful beginning for India at POSA. Our students have trained tirelessly, and seeing them perform with confidence and excellence on the global stage is truly inspiring,” said Coach Ria.

With inputs from IANS