Yamini Mourya Reflects on Silver Medal at Commonwealth Games 2026
Yamini Mourya's Journey to Silver
By Karunesh Kumar
Bhiwani (Haryana) [India], August 5: Indian judoka Yamini Mourya shared her thoughts on winning a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, expressing her initial confidence in clinching gold.
Yamini had even set a picture of a gold medal as her phone wallpaper, symbolizing her determination, but she believes a single error altered the final result.
In the women's 57kg category, Yamini faced off against England's Acelya Toprak in a tightly contested final, ultimately securing a silver medal after a grueling seven-minute match. The contest concluded with an Ippon defeat for Yamini, who received her third Shido penalty during the Golden Score period, allowing Toprak to take home the gold.
"I was certain I would win gold before the competition. I had even set a gold medal image as my wallpaper because I believed it was destined for me. My confidence was unwavering. However, one mistake changed everything, and the outcome was not what I envisioned," Yamini remarked.
She acknowledged that her aggressive style and the pivotal third Shido penalty were crucial factors in the match's outcome. Yamini emphasized that maintaining patience and trusting her strategy could have led to a different result, as she sensed her opponent was under pressure and likely to falter.
"I have replayed the final in my mind multiple times. I realized that the last Shido I received was pivotal. If I had remained calm instead of overly aggressive, I believe the result could have been different. I should have trusted my abilities and waited for my opponent to make a mistake, as that was happening. Instead, I made the error. Had I controlled my aggression and stayed patient, I think I could have won," she added.
Born on March 26, 1998, in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Yamini Mourya has represented India in numerous prestigious international events, including the World Championships, Asian Games, and the IJF World Tour. A multiple-time senior national champion, she has been a prominent figure in the international judo scene since 2022.
India participated in 12 judo events at the Glasgow Games, achieving a total of four medals: two golds, one silver, and one bronze, marking a significant improvement from the previous Commonwealth Games in 2022, where they secured three medals without a gold.
The remarkable campaign was led 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 matched her success in the men's division.
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 prizes of Rs 30 lakh for gold, Rs 20 lakh for silver, and Rs 10 lakh for bronze.