New Delhi
India has a new name etched in judo history. Tripura’s Asmita Dey, 23, became the first Indian judoka ever to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, delivering the breakthrough on July 31, 2026 in Glasgow.
Competing in the women’s 48 kg category, Asmita faced Canada’s Heidi Quach in the final. After a tense contest that went into golden score, Asmita scored a decisive _waza-ari_ to take the match 2-1 and clinch the gold. The win was part of a historic day for Indian judo, with Harsh Singh also winning gold in the men’s 60 kg, marking India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medals.
The victory was deeply emotional for Asmita. She dedicated the gold to her late father Arjun Kumar Dey, who ran a bicycle repair shop in Tripura and passed away in December 2025, and to her coach. “This Gold is for everyone who supported me,” she said after the bout, and also thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for giving her a job in the UP Police. Seven months after her father’s death, the gold felt like a tribute to his unwavering belief in her.
Asmita’s journey began far from the judo mat. She initially trained as an 800m runner before switching to judo. She learned the basics under Bina Debnath at Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre and later under Manik Lal Deb at Tripura Sports School. Her talent took her to the Sports Authority of India Regional Centre in Bhopal where she trained under Yashpal Solanki, and she was inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
Her rise has been steady. Asmita won gold at the 2023 Junior Asian Cup in Macau, silver at the 2023 Asian Open in Kuwait, multiple golds at Khelo India University Games, and was junior national champion for 2023-24. In 2025 she added another international title with gold at the African Open in Casablanca, and in 2026 she finished fifth at the Asian Senior Championships in Ordos City.
At Glasgow 2026, Asmita’s composure stood out. She said her commitment to make the nation proud kept her going through the physical and mental challenges of a 7-minute final that stretched into golden score. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated her and Harsh Singh, calling it a “Historic Day for Indian Judo”.
Born on 22 February 2003 in Tripura, Asmita now trains and is based in Varanasi while representing India internationally. Her gold not only ends India’s long wait for a Commonwealth judo title — India’s previous best were silvers and bronzes, including Shushila Devi’s silver in 2014 — but also signals a new generation of Indian judokas aiming for the Olympics.
For a girl from a small town in Tripura who once ran middle-distance races, Asmita’s gold is proof that with grit, family support, and the right ecosystem, Indian judo can now fight for the top step on the Commonwealth podium. KUDOS.
