"Had gold on my phone wallpaper, but one mistake changed everything": Indian judoka Yamini Mourya reflects on Glasgow CWG silver medal
By Karunesh Kumar, Bhiwani, August 5
Indian judoka Yamini Mourya reflected on her 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games silver medal, saying she had entered the competition with complete belief that she would win gold.
Yamini revealed that she had even set a gold medal as her phone wallpaper, but felt a single mistake changed the outcome of the contest.
Yamini secured a silver medal in the women's 57kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after a closely contested final against England's Acelya Toprak.
Yamini battled for nearly seven minutes in a high-intensity contest before suffering an Ippon defeat after receiving her third Shido penalty during the Golden Score period. The victory secured the gold medal for Toprak, while Yamini settled for a hard-earned silver for India.
"Before the competition, I was convinced I would win the gold medal. I had even set a picture of the gold medal as my phone wallpaper because I truly believed it was going to be mine. My confidence never wavered. But one mistake changed everything, and things didn't turn out the way I had imagined," Yamini told ANI.
Yamini admitted that her aggressive approach and the crucial third Shido penalty proved decisive. She stressed that staying patient and trusting her game could have changed the outcome, as she felt her opponent was under pressure and likely to make a mistake.
"I replayed the final in my mind four or five times. Looking back, I realised that the last Shido I received changed everything. If I had stayed calmer instead of becoming too aggressive, I think the result could have been different. I should have trusted my game and waited for my opponent to make a mistake, because that's what was happening. Instead, I made the mistake. Had I remained patient and controlled my aggression, I believe I could have won," she added.
Born on March 26, 1998, in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Yamini Mourya has represented India at several major international competitions, including the World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships and the IJF World Tour. A multiple-time senior national champion, Yamini has been a consistent presence on the international judo circuit since 2022.
India competed in 12 judo events in Glasgow, securing four medals, two gold, one silver and one bronze, a significant improvement from the three-medal haul without a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The historic campaign was spearheaded by Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, who became the first Indian judokas to win Commonwealth Games gold medals. Asmita created history by becoming the first Indian woman judoka to claim a gold medal at the Games, while Harsh achieved the same milestone in the men's category.
The Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also honoured the judo contingent, which scripted India's best-ever Commonwealth Games campaign. The medal winners were presented cash awards of Rs 30 lakh for gold, Rs 20 lakh for silver and Rs 10 lakh for bronze.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to hear an athlete blame herself after such a hard-fought contest. But this is what makes Indian sports so inspiring - our players are fighting till the end. Yamini, you made Bhiwani and all of India proud. Silver feels heavy now, but it's still shining bright! ✨
One mistake changing everything - that's the brutal reality of judo, the golden score rule is unforgiving. But let's appreciate the bigger picture: India's best-ever CWG judo campaign with 4 medals! Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh winning gold is a watershed moment for judo in India. The federation needs to invest more in the sport now.
Honestly, that final was a see-saw battle for 7 minutes, and the third Shido penalty was very debatable. But our girl kept her head high and acknowledged her aggressive approach was her own mistake. That's the mark of a mature athlete - most would blame the referee. Salute to her sportsmanship! 🙌
This tale of the phone wallpaper is a lesson for all youngsters - aim for gold, dream big, but never forget to stay disciplined on the mat. Her observation that the opponent was "about to make a mistake" but she herself blinked first... that's experience which will make her a champion in 2030. Keep grinding, Yamini!
I see some criticism about her being "too aggressive" but that's exactly why she got this far! The final was lost on a technicality, not on effort. Also, big shout out to the Sports Minister for the Rs 20 lakh cash award - that
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