International yoga athlete Yashovardhan Atri paid a courtesy visit to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala on Tuesday to seek his blessings. The 17-year-old athlete expressed deep reverence for the spiritual leader, acknowledging his timeless contributions to global harmony, peace and universal brotherhood.
Following the meeting, Yashovardhan — who has represented India on both national and international platforms — described the Dalai Lama as an enduring symbol of compassion, love, tolerance and moral strength. Accompanied by his sister Shubhra, elder brother Mehul Atri, and other family members, Yashovardhan shared that His Holiness’s teachings inspire humanity to embrace kindness and foster a united society.
A resident of Tira in Hamirpur, Yashovardhan is a Class XII student at Him Academy School. A dedicated yogasana practitioner for six years, he achieved a major milestone in 2025 by winning a bronze medal for India at the 10th Asian Yogasana Sports Championship in Singapore. He comes from an athletic family. His father, Narendra Atri — a national-level medallist himself — currently serves as the vice-president of the Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association.
