Jaismine, Arundhati reveal mindset behind Commonwealth Games gold
Synopsis
Jaismine Lamboria won Commonwealth gold with just three weeks of training after a month-long illness. Arundhati Choudhary boxed through a 102-degree fever and a wrist injury. Their accounts from the IAMGAME 2026 Conclave are a rare, unfiltered look at the mental architecture behind India's elite sporting performances.
Key Takeaways
Jaismine Lamboria , World No.
1 in the 57kg category, won Commonwealth gold after returning to training with only three weeks of preparation following a month-long illness .
Arundhati Choudhary , World No.
2 , competed in the 70kg final at Glasgow with a 102-degree fever , a wrist injury, and concerns over her mother's health.
Both boxers credited visualisation , sports psychology , and learning from defeats as central to their preparation.
They spoke at the IAMGAME 2026 Conclave at Bharat Mandapam , New Delhi , a platform focused on developing India's sporting ecosystem.
The conclave concluded with the inaugural IAMGAME Sports Awards , recognising Shafali Verma , Jemimah Rodrigues , Abhinav Shaw , Gurtej Singh Bhatti , and Munna Khalid .
Indian boxers Jaismine Lamboria and Arundhati Choudhary have opened up about the psychological battles they overcame on their way to gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, speaking at the IAMGAME 2026 Conclave held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, earlier this week.
Jaismine's Three-Week Comeback
Jaismine Lamboria, the women's 57kg champion and World No. 1, revealed she returned to training with just three weeks of preparation after a month-long illness — a detail that makes her Glasgow gold all the more remarkable. Speaking during a fireside chat at the conclave, she reflected on the role of self-belief in elite competition.
'If you want to see your hand raised, give your 100 per cent in the ring. Once you understand what you are capable of and overcome self-doubt, nothing can hold you back from doing your best for the country,' Jaismine said.
Arundhati's Fight Through Fever and Injury
Arundhati Choudhary, World No. 2 and gold medallist in the women's 70kg category, competed at Glasgow while battling a 102-degree fever, a wrist injury, and anxiety over her mother's health — conditions that would sideline most athletes. Her decision to compete came down to a stark calculation.
'The Commonwealth Games comes once in four years. I told myself I could either fight for nine minutes or wait another four years. You cannot win on aggression alone; mentally, you have to win first,' Arundhati said.
Mental Skills at the Core
Both boxers emphasised the role of visualisation, sports psychology, and learning from defeats as non-negotiable pillars of their preparation for major competitions. Their accounts underscored a growing recognition in Indian sport that physical conditioning alone is insufficient at the highest levels.
This comes amid a broader national conversation about athlete welfare and mental health support in Olympic disciplines, an area where India's sporting infrastructure has historically lagged behind its medal ambitions.
About the IAMGAME 2026 Conclave
The two-day conclave brought together athletes, sports administrators, business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to address gaps in access, participation, and collaboration across Indian sport. Karan Singh Chettri, Founder and CEO of ESP 360 Degree Solution and IAMGAME, said the platform was designed to bridge structural gaps in the country's sporting ecosystem.
The event concluded with the inaugural IAMGAME Sports Awards. In the Athlete Excellence category, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues were named Athlete of the Year – Female, while Abhinav Shaw and Gurtej Singh Bhatti received gold honours in the Male category. Munna Khalid was named Para-Athlete of the Year.
As both Jaismine and Arundhati now set their sights on upcoming international competitions, their Glasgow accounts serve as a reminder that India's next generation of champions is being forged as much in the mind as in the ring.
Point of View
Gold won through a 102-degree fever — are not just inspiring anecdotes; they expose a structural gap. India's high-performance system produces champions despite inadequate mental health and recovery infrastructure, not because of it. The fact that Arundhati had to frame competing injured as a binary choice between nine minutes now or four years later reflects an athlete support system that still places the burden of resilience entirely on the individual. As India chases a top-ten finish at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the IAMGAME Conclave's focus on sports psychology and ecosystem gaps is well-timed — but forums alone do not build systems.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Jaismine Lamboria prepare for the Commonwealth Games?
Jaismine Lamboria had only three weeks of training before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after recovering from a month-long illness. Despite the compressed preparation, she won gold in the women's 57kg category and is currently ranked World No. 1.
What challenges did Arundhati Choudhary face at the Commonwealth Games?
Arundhati Choudhary competed in the women's 70kg final in Glasgow while dealing with a 102-degree fever, a wrist injury, and concerns about her mother's health. She won gold, later saying she chose to fight nine minutes rather than wait another four years for the next Commonwealth Games.
What is the IAMGAME 2026 Conclave?
The IAMGAME 2026 Conclave is a two-day sports business forum held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together athletes, coaches, policymakers, brands, and entrepreneurs to address gaps in India's sporting ecosystem. It was organised by ESP 360 Degree Solution and concluded with the inaugural IAMGAME Sports Awards.
Who won awards at the IAMGAME Sports Awards 2026?
Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues were named Athlete of the Year – Female, while Abhinav Shaw and Gurtej Singh Bhatti received gold honours in the Male category. Munna Khalid was named Para-Athlete of the Year.
Why is mental preparation important in elite boxing?
Both Jaismine Lamboria and Arundhati Choudhary highlighted that physical ability alone is insufficient at the highest level of competition. They credited visualisation, sports psychology, and the ability to process defeat as key factors in winning gold at the Commonwealth Games.
