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Axis Bank, in partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), has helped four Indian women judokas qualify for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow through its Judo Development Programme. Having supported over 500 athletes, the initiative combines grassroots development, elite coaching, sports science and international exposure to strengthen India's judo ecosystem.

National, July 22, 2026: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in partnership with Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), India’s premier high-performance Olympic programme, is helping translate India’s sporting potential into international success through the Axis Bank Judo Development Programme. Having supported more than 500 athletes across grassroots and high-performance pathways, the programme has reached another significant milestone, with four women judokas qualifying for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Yamini Mourya (57kg), Unnati Sharma (63kg), Ishroop Narang (78kg) and Takhellambam Inunganbi (70kg) have earned their place in India’s Commonwealth Games squad, reflecting the impact of sustained investment in athlete development, world-class coaching, sports science, and international exposure. Their qualification marks the latest milestone for a programme that is steadily building India’s next generation of judokas. The programme has also contributed to landmark achievements, including Linthoi Chanambam becoming India’s first-ever World Junior Championship medallist in judo after securing bronze at the 2025 World Junior Championships in Peru. 

Beyond individual milestones, the programme is helping build a stronger and more competitive ecosystem for Indian judo. Through its grassroots initiative in Manipur and the IIS High Performance Centre, it has nurtured talent at multiple levels, supporting 471 young judokas and 53 elite female athletes. Athletes supported under the programme have collectively secured more than 140 medals across state, national and international competitions, while also benefiting from 11 international training camps in leading judo nations such as Japan, Georgia and Uzbekistan.

Designed as a holistic athlete development initiative, the programme combines world-class coaching with sports science, nutrition, strength and conditioning, mental wellbeing support, education assistance and competition exposure. In Manipur and the North-East, partnerships with local stakeholders, including the Manipur Judo Association, along with mentorship from Olympian Sushila Devi, are helping nurture promising talent. The initiative also provides athletes from underserved and conflict-affected regions access to a safe, structured environment for training and development.