GUWAHATI: Indian judo scripted history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh clinched gold medals, becoming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games judo champions.
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Asmita Dey became the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold after claiming the women's 48kg title. The 23-year-old from a small village in Tripura dedicated her historic victory to her late father, a cycle mechanic who passed away from a brain stroke seven months ago. Despite earning barely ₹300 a day, he supported her dream of pursuing judo.
"When my father passed away, I thought everything had finished because he was the one who supported me," Asmita said after her victory, fighting back tears.
Recalling her journey, she added, "I am from a very small village in Tripura. People there don't dream this big. But Papa always supported me."
Soon after, Harsh Singh added another golden chapter by winning the men's 60kg title with a decisive Waza-Ari, becoming the first Indian male judoka to claim Commonwealth Games gold. The twin victories marked a landmark moment for Indian judo, with Asmita becoming the country's first Commonwealth Games judo gold medallist and Harsh the first Indian man to win the title.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Asmita, calling her achievement a proud and defining moment for Indian judo. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar also praised both judokas, saying their outstanding performances reflected years of hard work, discipline and determination, and would inspire aspiring judokas across the country.
The double gold marks India's biggest achievement in Commonwealth Games judo and provides a major boost to the sport's growing profile in the country.