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By Ishaan Kapoor — 31 July 2026 — 4 min read

Historic Judo Golds for India in Glasgow

India celebrated a significant achievement in judo at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh both secured gold medals. Dey became the first Indian judoka to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, triumphing in the women’s 48kg category. Later the same day, Singh added to India’s medal tally by winning gold in the men’s 60kg judo event.

Asmita Dey, a 23-year-old from Tripura, made history by defeating Canada‘s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final. Her victory marked a significant moment for Indian judo, ending the country’s wait for a Commonwealth Games champion in the sport. Dey’s journey to gold involved a spirited comeback in a dramatic golden score contest.

The final match saw Heidi Quach initially take control after Asmita Dey conceded a yuko and received a penalty. However, Dey responded with increased intent, levelling the scores at 1-1 midway through the four-minute regulation time. With neither judoka securing a decisive score, the match proceeded to the Golden Score period. Maintaining her composure, Dey executed a decisive attack in sudden-death overtime, earning another yuko to clinch the victory and the gold medal for India.

Earlier in the competition, Asmita Dey had progressed through challenging bouts, including a tense Golden Score semifinal against Scotland‘s Sarah Adlington. She began her campaign with an ippon victory over Scotland‘s Eva Ewing in the quarterfinals, demonstrating her strong form throughout the tournament.

Harsh Singh Adds to India’s Gold Tally

Following Asmita Dey‘s historic win, Harsh Singh secured India’s second judo gold medal of the day in the men’s 60kg category. Singh defeated Australia‘s Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari (10-0) in the final. This victory contributed to India’s overall medal count at the Glasgow Games.

In his final match, Joshua Katz began aggressively, but Harsh Singh maintained a firm defense, preventing his opponent from scoring early. Both judokas exchanged attacks without a clear advantage in the initial stages. A critical moment occurred when Katz nearly pinned Singh, who managed to escape and launch a counterattack. The decisive move came at the 3:19 mark when Singh executed a well-timed throw followed by a pin, earning a Waza-Ari score that secured his gold medal.

Harsh Singh dedicated his gold medal to his mother, expressing his happiness at winning for the country and his commitment to future competitions. His win, alongside Asmita Dey‘s, highlighted a successful day for Indian judo at the Commonwealth Games.

Dey’s Journey and India’s Overall Performance

Asmita Dey‘s background reflects a journey of perseverance. Born in Belonia, South Tripura, she is the daughter of a bicycle repair shop owner. She initially pursued athletics before transitioning to judo after a coach recognized her potential. She trained at the Tripura Sports School and later at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Bhopal.

Dey’s international career includes a bronze medal at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Bangkok in July 2022, where she became the first judoka from Tripura to win an international medal. She also secured gold at the Khelo India University Games in Bengaluru, silver at the Asian Open in Kuwait City, and gold at the Junior Asia Cup Judo Championships in Macau in July. In 2024, she won bronze at the Commonwealth Judo Championships and followed it with a gold at the 2025 African Open in Casablanca, Morocco. She also gained experience at the 2026 Asian Senior Championships before competing in Glasgow.

India’s total medal count at the Glasgow Games reached 19, comprising five gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals. The gold medallists include Mirabai Chanu (women’s 48kg weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (women’s shot put F57), Dilip Gavit (men’s 100m T47), Asmita Dey (women’s 48kg judo), and Harsh Singh (men’s 60kg judo). The 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.

Source: thenewsmill.com