First Commonwealth Games Judo Gold: India had a landmark kind of moment at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh redrew India’s judo legacy by bringing home the country’s first ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in the sport. Their wins came almost back to back, within minutes of each other and it felt like a real breakthrough for Indian judo. In the end, it also added two proper historic gold medals to the nation’s overall tally.
For decades, India had never stood on the top step of the Commonwealth Games judo podium. On Friday, Asmita Dey ended that wait in the women’s 48kg category, and less than 20 minutes later, Harsh Singh followed by claiming gold in the men’s 60kg event.
First Commonwealth Games Judo Gold: Asmita Dey
The 23-year-old judoka from Tripura produced a composed performance in the women’s -48kg final, defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in a tense contest decided during the Golden Score period.
The victory made Asmita the first Indian judoka male or female to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, ending a long wait for Indian judo on the Commonwealth stage.
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Asmita’s journey has been equally inspiring. She began her sporting career as an 800-metre runner before switching to judo and later training at the Sports Authority of India Regional Centre in Bhopal, where she developed into one of India’s top -48kg athletes.
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Harsh Singh India’s Historic Double
Before the celebrations could settle, Harsh Singh delivered another golden moment. Competing in the men’s -60kg final, the 23-year-old defeated Australian Olympian Joshua Katz with a decisive Waza-ari in the closing seconds of the contest. His victory made him the first Indian male judoka to win Commonwealth Games gold.
Landmark Day for Indian Judo
The twin victories are among the biggest milestones that Indian judo has seen in a long time. Even if Indian judokas have been picking up medals at international events for years, one Commonwealth Games gold just stayed out of reach. Until Glasgow 2026, that is. Asmita and Harsh not only managed to break that barrier they also put forward India’s first ever double gold in the sport at the Games.
The historic judo triumph formed part of a memorable day for Team India, which enjoyed one of its strongest medal hauls of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The performances helped India climb the medal table while showcasing the country’s increasing competitiveness beyond its traditional powerhouse sports.
