Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh secure judo gold medals for India at Commonwealth Games
Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh have made history by securing gold medals for India in judo at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Dey became the country’s first judo champion at the Commonwealth Games, winning the women’s 48kg category, while Singh followed with a gold in the men’s 60kg event.
Dey, a 23-year-old from Tripura, defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final. The match went into a Golden Score period after neither judoka could secure a decisive score during regulation time. Dey ultimately won by Yuko, marking a significant moment for Indian judo.
Her journey to the gold medal included a tense Golden Score semifinal victory against Scotland’s Sarah Adlington. Dey began her campaign with an ippon victory over Scotland’s Eva Ewing in the quarterfinals. An ippon is the highest possible score in judo, ending the contest immediately, while a Yuko is a lower-value score.
Dey’s Path to Gold
Born on March 22, 2003, in Belonia, Asmita Dey started her athletic career in the 800m before transitioning to judo. She joined the Tripura Sports School in 2015, training under Bina Debnath and later Manik Lal Deb. Her performances in the School Games and Khelo India circuit led her to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Bhopal, where she trained under the national programme.
Dey’s international debut saw her win a bronze medal at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Bangkok in July 2022. She also secured a gold medal in the women’s -48kg category at the Khelo India University Games in Bengaluru. In April, she earned a silver medal at the Asian Open in Kuwait City, followed by a gold at the Junior Asia Cup Judo Championships in Macau in July.
Dey has identified Indian judoka Avtar Singh and Japanese star Uta Abe as her sporting idols. As a Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) development athlete, she has expressed ambitions to win an Olympic medal for India. She also represented India at the 2026 Asian Senior Championships, gaining experience before the Commonwealth Games.
Singh’s Victory and India’s Medal Tally
Following Dey’s historic win, Harsh Singh secured India’s second judo gold medal at the Games. He defeated Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s 60kg final by Waza-Ari (10-0). The decisive moment occurred at the 3:19 mark when Singh executed a throw followed by a pin.
Singh dedicated his gold medal to his mother, stating his happiness to win for the country and his intention to prepare for the Asian Games if qualified. Katz initiated the final aggressively, but Singh maintained a strong defense. Both competitors exchanged attacks before Singh’s winning move.
These judo gold medals contributed to India’s overall medal count of 19 at the Glasgow Games. The total includes five gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals. Other Indian gold medallists at the Games include Mirabai Chanu (women’s 48kg weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (women’s shot put F57), and Dilip Gavit (men’s 100m T47).
Silver medals were secured by Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Gyaneshwari Yadav, Sarvesh Kushare, Valluri Ajaya Babu, Harjinder Kaur, Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar, Mohammed Basil, and Lovepreet Singh. Bronze medals were awarded to Jhandu Kumar, Bindyarani Devi, Shilpa K Shyla, and Seema Kaliramna.
The victories by Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh mark a significant achievement for Indian judo at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Source: thenewsmill.com
