SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Over Memorial Day weekend, Syracuse hosted the 2026 International Kettlebell Marathon Federation World Championsips. Inside The Oncenter, thletes from around the globe came to Central New York.
The United States had the largest contingent of all competing nations, by a wide margin, but the largest foreign delegation belonged to Team India. Coaches, families and friends joined 14 athletes on the trip from the other side of the world.
“The flight overall took about 20 hours,” said Samrat Sen, one of the lifters for Team India. “Then we took a bus ride of over six hours to get to Syracuse.”
Some of the athletes had flight itineraries as long as 22 hours. Most of the team flew from Delhi to London, then from London to New York City before the bus trip.
For Sen, it was his first trip to the U.S., despite having competed for India on the international stage several times. His teammate, Yogeshwar Sharma, visited America in 2019, and is quite fond of the experience stateside.
“All of the people here are very warm and I really love being here,” Sharma said.
This is the first time an IKMF World Championship has come to the Western Hemisphere, giving Syracuse a unique opportunity to leave its mark on the international sports stage. This is an opportunity that Brent Morehouse, the president of the event’s organizing committee, believes his team rose to.
“In this really divided world, we can actually come together, as an international community and just be there with each other and support each other,” Morehouse said. “That just means a lot in today’s time.”
In a way, the spirit of international competition mirrors the spirit of kettlebell marathon, especially if you ask Sharma.
“Never give up. No matter what happens, never give up. Never quit,” Sharma said. “Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want, but there is a higher picture.”
To Sharma, that higher picture is peace on Earth, something only attainable through hard work and community, just like wielding a kettlebell for an hour straight.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Team India takes the 2026 IKMF World Championships by Storm
Nate Polite: Team India showed out loud and proud at the 2026 International Kettlebell Marathon World Championships that took place at The Oncenter over Memorial Day weekend. They were one of 14 countries to compete, and brought more than 20 people halfway across the world. 14 Indian athletes…
Crowd: Indian national anthem.
Polite: …The largest of any foreign roster, descended upon the Oncenter for the IKMF World Championships.
Samrat Sen: So, I started way back in 2014, kettlebell was just a fitness tool for me. Actually a friend of mine initially told me about kettlebell sport and he helped me get into it.
Polite: The first trip to the U.S. for much of the team, and for good reason.
Sen: The flight overall took about 20 hours, and then we took a bus ride of over six hours to get to Syracuse.
Polite: And when the entire world meets on one stage, it becomes a learning experience for everyone.
Sen: We get to see lifters from different countries, coaches from different countries. We end up exchanging notes and tips and tricks on how to make this game better, bigger and also improve ourselves.
Crowd: 3… 2… 1!
Yogeshwar Sharma: First is never give up. No matter what happens, never give up, never quit. And you have to
pace. Sometimes things don’t work out the way you want, but there is a higher picture.
Polite: Above the lessons of sport though, are the lessons of life to learn from fellow competitors from across the globe.
Brent Morehouse: It shows that, in this really divided world, that we can actually come together as an international community.
Polite: Support that goes beyond the arena, and into the streets.
Lisa Craig: Everyone I’ve talked to has had a great experience.
Sharma: All of the people here are very warm and I really love being here.
Polite: County legislator Cody Kelly told me that Onondaga County is hard at work to become a destination for sports tourism, and hosting the IKMF World Championships is the first step on what legislators hope is the path to major events, like March Madness, coming back to Onondaga County.