Yamini Mourya Reflects on Silver Medal at Commonwealth Games 2026

Yamini Mourya, the Indian judoka, reflects on her silver medal win at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Despite her confidence and preparation, a critical mistake altered her path to gold. In a gripping final against England's Acelya Toprak, Yamini's aggressive strategy led to a pivotal penalty that changed the outcome. She shares insights on her journey, the importance of patience, and India's historic judo performance at the Games, where the country secured four medals, including two golds. Discover more about her experience and the lessons learned from this intense competition.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 5, 2026, 18:34 IST

Yamini Mourya's Journey to Silver

Indian judoka Yamini Mourya shared her thoughts on winning a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, expressing her initial confidence in securing gold. She had even set a gold medal image as her phone wallpaper, but a critical mistake altered the course of her match.

Competing in the women's 57kg category, Yamini faced England's Acelya Toprak in a tightly contested final. The match lasted nearly seven minutes, culminating in an Ippon defeat for Yamini after she received her third Shido penalty during the Golden Score period. This result awarded Toprak the gold medal, while Yamini earned a commendable silver for India.

'One Mistake Changed Everything'

"I was fully convinced of winning gold before the competition. I even set a picture of the gold medal as my phone wallpaper because I believed it was destined for me. My confidence was unwavering. However, one mistake shifted everything, and the outcome was not what I envisioned," Yamini recounted.

She acknowledged that her aggressive style and the pivotal third Shido penalty were crucial factors. Yamini emphasized that maintaining patience and trusting her strategy could have led to a different result, as she sensed her opponent was under pressure. "I replayed the final multiple times in my mind. I realized that the last Shido I received changed everything. If I had remained calm instead of overly aggressive, I believe the result could have been different. I should have trusted my game and waited for my opponent to falter, as that was happening. Instead, I made the mistake. Had I controlled my aggression, I think I could have won," she reflected.

Profile: Yamini Mourya

Yamini Mourya was born on March 26, 1998, in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. She has represented India in numerous prestigious international events, including the World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and the IJF World Tour. A multiple-time senior national champion, Yamini has been a prominent figure in the international judo scene since 2022.

India's Remarkable Judo Performance

At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, India participated in 12 judo events, achieving a total of four medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze. This marked a significant improvement from the previous Commonwealth Games in 2022, where India secured three medals without a gold. The campaign was highlighted by Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, who made history as the first Indian judokas to win gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Asmita became the first Indian woman judoka to achieve this feat, while Harsh followed suit in the men's category.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya honored the judo team for their outstanding performance, which marked India's best-ever showing at the Commonwealth Games. Medal winners received cash awards of Rs 30 lakh for gold, Rs 20 lakh for silver, and Rs 10 lakh for bronze.