Glasgow: India’s Unnati Sharma delivered a resilient performance to clinch the bronze medal in the women’s 63kg judo event at the Commonwealth Games 2026, bouncing back strongly from a semifinal defeat. She defeated South Africa’s Skye Knoester in the third-place playoff to secure a place on the podium.
Her medal contributed to India’s growing success in judo at the Glasgow Games, taking the country’s tally in the discipline to four medals.
Strong comeback after semifinal setback
Unnati’s journey in the competition showcased both dominance and determination. After a commanding run through the early rounds, she faced disappointment in the semifinals. However, the Indian judoka showed remarkable composure to recover and deliver a decisive performance in the bronze medal match.
Her victory over Knoester underlined her ability to handle pressure and respond effectively after setbacks, a trait crucial at the highest level of competition.
Meanwhile, India narrowly missed another judo medal in the men’s 81kg category, as Harsh Tokas lost the bronze medal bout to Australia’s Keishin Ochi by ippon.
Dominant run in early rounds
Unnati began her campaign with an impressive display in the Round of 16, defeating Eswatini’s Lamulela Magagula in just 1 minute and 39 seconds. She secured the win by ippon after executing two successive waza-aris, demonstrating technical precision and control.
In the quarterfinals, she continued her strong form against New Zealand’s Qona Christie. Unnati first registered a yuko before sealing the contest with a decisive waza-ari, earning her a spot in the semifinals.
Although her bid for a place in the final fell short, her overall performance remained consistent and competitive throughout the event.
Key contribution to India’s judo success
Unnati’s bronze adds to India’s impressive medal haul in judo at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Earlier, Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh secured gold medals, while Yamini Mourya claimed silver.
The results highlight India’s growing strength in judo, with athletes delivering across multiple weight categories.
Rising career of Unnati Sharma
Hailing from Uttarakhand, Unnati Sharma’s journey in judo is both unique and inspiring. She initially took up the sport with the aim of improving her fitness and losing weight at a local training centre.
However, her natural talent quickly became evident. After two years of training, her performances convinced her family to support her pursuit of judo professionally in 2019.
Since then, Unnati has steadily built her career, representing Uttarakhand at national competitions and earning a place in India’s junior and senior international squads.
Her recent achievements include:
- Gold at the 2026 Dakar Africa Open
- Bronze at the 2025 Hong Kong Asia Open
- Gold at the 2023 Macau Junior Asian Open
- Top-seven finishes at the 2025 Taipei Asian Open and 2023 Junior Asian Championships
These accomplishments reflect her steady rise in the sport and her ability to compete at international levels.
Conclusion
Unnati Sharma’s bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 is a testament to her resilience, skill and determination. Her ability to bounce back from a semifinal defeat and secure a podium finish highlights her potential as one of India’s promising judo athletes.
As India continues to make strides in judo, performances like Unnati’s reinforce the country’s growing presence in the sport on the global stage.