Historic first: Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh win India's maiden judo golds at Commonwealth Games
India's judokas created history at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday (July 31, 2026) as Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh clinched gold medals in the women's 48kg and men's -60kg events respectively. These are India's first-ever gold medals in judo at the Commonwealth Games.
Asmita Dey, a 23-year-old from Tripura, produced a determined comeback to defeat Canada's Heidi Quach in a dramatic final that stretched into a golden score period. After conceding an early yuko and receiving a penalty, Asmita found herself trailing. But she responded with renewed intent, levelling the scores midway through the four-minute contest. Neither judoka could secure a decisive score in regulation time, forcing the match into sudden-death overtime. Maintaining her composure under pressure, Asmita launched a successful attack to earn a yuko and seal a memorable victory.
Her campaign showcased remarkable resilience, as she twice recovered from difficult positions. The gold medal marked the culmination of an impressive run in Glasgow, with Asmita overcoming several strong opponents en route to the final.
Later in the day, Harsh Singh delivered a similarly historic performance in the men's -60kg category. Competing in his maiden Commonwealth Games, the 23-year-old upset Australia's Joshua Katz, a vastly experienced judoka who had won bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and represented Australia at the Olympics.
The final was a closely fought contest, with neither athlete able to establish a clear advantage. With just 41 seconds remaining, Harsh executed a superb waza-ari — the second-highest scoring technique in judo — to take the lead. He then defended resolutely through the closing moments to secure the win.
Katz came from a prominent judo family, with both parents having been judokas and his father serving as Australia's national judo coach at previous Olympic Games. That background made Harsh's triumph even more notable, as the young Indian remained composed and tactically astute against a more seasoned opponent.
These two gold medals mark a significant milestone for Indian judo on the international stage. Prior to this, Indian judokas had won bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games, but never gold. Both Asmita and Harsh are 23 years old, suggesting a bright future for the sport in India.
The Indian contingent in Glasgow celebrated the double victory, with the national anthem playing twice on the judo mats. The success is expected to boost the profile of judo in India and inspire a new generation of athletes.
