Takhellambam Inunganbi wins historic Asian Championships judo medal

Indian judo has secured an unprecedented international breakthrough, highlighted by historic podium finishes at the Asian Championships and the Commonwealth Games. The campaign has rewritten national records on the mat, driven by athletes who fought their way back from career-threatening physical setbacks.

Takhellambam Inunganbi claimed the bronze medal in the women's event at the Asian Judo Championships in Ordos, becoming the first Indian judoka in thirteen years to medal at the competition, according to a release reported by News.webindia123. Meanwhile, at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Yamini Maurya clinched a silver medal in the 57kg category, contributing to a historic national campaign where Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh secured the country's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in the sport, according to a press release cited by Newindianexpress.

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Behind these milestone medals lies a grueling physical toll. Both Inunganbi and Maurya faced severe, career-threatening knee injuries that required extensive surgeries and forced them away from competitive training for nearly a year. Inunganbi battled through two major knee injuries, culminating in a meniscus tear that required surgery in June 2024. Maurya underwent surgery in 2024, keeping her off the mat for almost twelve months. Beyond the initial tissue damage and rehabilitation, the athletes confronted the compounding physiological challenge of weight management during prolonged inactivity. Maurya noted that her weight increased significantly during her recovery, requiring disciplined intervention to regain her competitive category while simultaneously protecting her healing joint.

"It took me almost a year to get on the mat. After that, it was very difficult to maintain my weight because my weight had increased a lot. So, I maintained my weight and started the competition while taking care of my injury."

Yamini Maurya, 57kg silver medalist, via Newindianexpress

The successful returns were engineered through structured high-performance environments. Both athletes trained at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), which provided an integrated rehabilitation and sports science infrastructure. Following her 2024 surgery, Inunganbi relied on IIS for a comprehensive return-to-sport programme that combined coaching, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, recovery protocols, sports science, and nutrition support. Her coach at the institute, Baye Diawara, emphasized that her recovery demanded exceptional commitment beyond standard athletic training.

"Inunganbi's biggest quality is her resilience. Recovering from one major injury is difficult enough, but coming back from two serious knee injuries and returning to win at the highest level takes exceptional commitment."

Baye Diawara, Coach at the Inspire Institute of Sport, via News.webindia123

This institutional backing stands in stark contrast to the athletes' humble origins. Maurya began her career at the school level without professional facilities, practicing on standard domestic mats and ordinary mattresses without any initial awareness of elite international events like the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics until guided by her district coach.

Having re-established themselves among the nation's leading competitors, the athletes now carry their momentum forward. Inunganbi and Maurya are heading into the ongoing competitions at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to continue testing their resilience on the international stage.

National Honors and Institutional Backing

The 27-year-old athlete's resurgence extended locally before her international success, having captured the Senior National Championships title for the 2025-26 season, according to News.webindia123. This domestic victory laid the groundwork for her historic continental breakthrough in Ordos, where she ended a thirteen-year dry spell for Indian judo at the Asian Championships. Her teammate Yamini Maurya also added to the national medal tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, contributing India's third medal in the sport during a campaign that saw Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh secure the country's first-ever gold medals in judo at the Games, according to reports by Newindianexpress.

Both competitors overcame extensive physical hurdles by utilizing professional support structures:

• Takhellambam Inunganbi relied on the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) following her June 2024 meniscus surgery for coaching, physiotherapy, and nutrition support.
• Yamini Maurya managed significant weight gain during her twelve-month post-surgery recovery before returning to the 57kg competitive category.
• Maurya transitioned from practicing on ordinary school mattresses without prior knowledge of elite international events to international podium contention.

Reflecting on her journey through rehabilitation, Inunganbi credited the daily environment at the institute for restoring her competitive confidence, noting that the presence of the right support team allowed her to focus entirely on her physical recovery. Coach Baye Diawara praised her adherence to the recovery protocols, highlighting that her resilience through two major knee operations set her apart on the national team.

With the current competitions underway in Glasgow, the next step sees Inunganbi and Maurya testing their hard-won readiness against international opponents on one of the sport's biggest stages.