Mumbai, July 30 — Yamini Mourya, the first Indian judoka to win a medal at the FISU World University Games, is preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a clear emphasis on staying present in every contest rather than looking too far ahead.

The 28-year-old has established herself as one of India’s leading athletes in the women’s 57kg category. After her historic FISU medal she has added gold medals at the African Open and Asian Open, building a record of consistent performances on the international circuit. She now aims to convert that experience into success at the multi-sport event in Scotland.

Mourya explained the distinctive mental demands of her sport. “In judo, you can’t think too far ahead because every bout is different. My focus is always on the match in front of me and executing what we’ve worked on in training. The preparation has been good, and I’m feeling confident. Now it’s about staying calm, making the right decisions on the mat and giving my best in every contest,” she said.

Regular exposure to strong international opponents has sharpened her competitive edge. “Competing against strong international opponents teaches you something every time. You understand where you need to improve and what works under pressure. Those experiences have helped me become a better athlete, and I’m looking forward to testing myself again at the Commonwealth Games,” she added.

Based at the Inspire Institute of Sport, Mourya credits the high-performance environment for allowing complete concentration on her craft. “One of the biggest advantages of training at the Inspire Institute of Sport is that everything is taken care of in one place. From nutrition and physiotherapy to recovery and training, there’s a great support system around us, so I can focus completely on judo. Being on campus with athletes from different sports who are all chasing the same dream is also very motivating. It pushes you to work harder every day and become a better athlete,” she stated.

Representing India at a major multi-sport gathering remains her primary motivation. “It’s always a proud feeling to wear the India jersey. Every athlete wants to perform well for the country, and I’m no different. I’ll go into every bout with confidence, give everything I have and hope to make India proud.”

Mourya’s approach reflects the nature of judo, where each contest is self-contained and requires immediate, full commitment. With a growing medal collection and the backing of a comprehensive support system, she enters the Commonwealth Games campaign focused on process rather than distant outcomes, determined to deliver her best performance for India on the Glasgow mats.

Mumbai, July 30 — Yamini Mourya, the first Indian judoka to win a medal at the FISU World University Games, is preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a clear emphasis on staying present in every contest rather than looking too far ahead.

The 28-year-old has established herself as one of India’s leading athletes in the women’s 57kg category. After her historic FISU medal she has added gold medals at the African Open and Asian Open, building a record of consistent performances on the international circuit. She now aims to convert that experience into success at the multi-sport event in Scotland.

Mourya explained the distinctive mental demands of her sport. “In judo, you can’t think too far ahead because every bout is different. My focus is always on the match in front of me and executing what we’ve worked on in training. The preparation has been good, and I’m feeling confident. Now it’s about staying calm, making the right decisions on the mat and giving my best in every contest,” she said.

Regular exposure to strong international opponents has sharpened her competitive edge. “Competing against strong international opponents teaches you something every time. You understand where you need to improve and what works under pressure. Those experiences have helped me become a better athlete, and I’m looking forward to testing myself again at the Commonwealth Games,” she added.

Based at the Inspire Institute of Sport, Mourya credits the high-performance environment for allowing complete concentration on her craft. “One of the biggest advantages of training at the Inspire Institute of Sport is that everything is taken care of in one place. From nutrition and physiotherapy to recovery and training, there’s a great support system around us, so I can focus completely on judo. Being on campus with athletes from different sports who are all chasing the same dream is also very motivating. It pushes you to work harder every day and become a better athlete,” she stated.

Representing India at a major multi-sport gathering remains her primary motivation. “It’s always a proud feeling to wear the India jersey. Every athlete wants to perform well for the country, and I’m no different. I’ll go into every bout with confidence, give everything I have and hope to make India proud.”

Mourya’s approach reflects the nature of judo, where each contest is self-contained and requires immediate, full commitment. With a growing medal collection and the backing of a comprehensive support system, she enters the Commonwealth Games campaign focused on process rather than distant outcomes, determined to deliver her best performance for India on the Glasgow mats.