Unnati Sharma Celebrates India's Judo Success at Commonwealth Games 2026

Unnati Sharma, a bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games 2026, has praised India's remarkable achievement of four judo medals, including two golds. She expressed her excitement about the sport's growing popularity in India and shared insights into her journey, including her strategies and future goals, particularly her ambition to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Unnati's story highlights the importance of support from her family and training facilities in her success.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 7, 2026, 20:15 IST

India's Judo Triumph

Unnati Sharma, who secured a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026, praised India's impressive four-medal achievement in judo at the Glasgow event. This success is expected to enhance the sport's visibility and popularity in India.

In addition to Unnati's bronze in the Women's -63kg category, India's judo medal tally featured gold medals from Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, along with a silver from Yamini Mourya, culminating in a total of four medals. Notably, Asmita's gold marked India's first judo gold of the Games.

Bronze Medal Match

Unnati clinched her bronze medal with a remarkable Ippon victory against South Africa's Skye Knoester, finishing the match in just 1 minute and 7 seconds. She executed a perfectly timed leg hook, achieving a clean Ippon, which is the highest score in judo.

In an interview, Unnati expressed her joy over India's judo accomplishments at the Commonwealth Games, particularly the two gold medals, which she believes will significantly uplift the sport in the nation. "It feels amazing that medals have finally arrived in Judo, and the two golds are a tremendous boost for us," she stated.

Unnati's Path to Bronze

Unnati's journey began with an Ippon victory over Lamulela Magagula from Eswatini in the round of 16, followed by a quarter-final win against New Zealand's Qona Christie by waza-ari. However, she faced an Ippon defeat against Australia's Saya Middleton, the eventual silver medallist, in the semi-finals, which led her to the bronze medal match.

After her semi-final loss, Unnati analyzed her opponent's previous matches and crafted a strategy to counter her left-handed style. During the bronze medal bout, she utilized the Dane-Toshi technique, taking advantage of her opponent's positioning to secure an Ippon victory. "After losing the semi-final, I focused on winning bronze and kept a positive mindset," she shared.

Acknowledging Support

Unnati expressed gratitude towards her family, coaches, and the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) for their unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey. "The backing from my family and the facilities at IIS have been instrumental in my training and success," she noted.

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Unnati aims to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and plans to participate in various competitions leading up to the event. "My goal is LA 2028, and I will focus on qualifying through upcoming competitions," she stated.