Indian Judokas Shine at Commonwealth Games 2026 with Gold Medals
Celebrating Gold Medal Wins
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Indian judokas Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey for their remarkable gold medal achievements at the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow. He emphasized that their triumphs would significantly enhance the sport's popularity in India.
Harsh Singh's Victory
Harsh Singh secured the men's 60kg gold medal by defeating Australia's Joshua Katz with a decisive Waza-Ari score of 10-0 in the final match. His disciplined performance marked a significant moment for Indian judo.
Asmita Dey's Impressive Win
Asmita Dey also showcased her skills by overcoming Canada's Heidi Quach, winning the women's 48kg final with a Yuko score of 2-1. Her composed approach throughout the match was commendable.
PM Modi's Praise
In a post on X, PM Modi lauded Harsh Singh for his dedication and exceptional performance, stating, "Historic Day for Indian Judo! Congrats to Harsh Singh for winning a Gold. His passion and dedication are clearly reflected in the exceptional performance. Best wishes for the upcoming endeavours."
Similarly, he congratulated Asmita Dey, highlighting her performance's potential to popularize judo in India. He expressed pride in her achievement, stating, "A golden performance indeed! Proud of Asmita Dey for winning a Gold in the Judo Women's 48KG Final! This performance will always be remembered and will contribute towards Judo becoming even more popular. Best wishes for her endeavours ahead."
Path to Gold for Harsh Singh
Harsh's journey to gold was marked by a disciplined display, securing India's second judo gold medal of the Games after Asmita's earlier victory. The final began with Katz attempting to take an early lead, but Harsh's defense was resolute, preventing any scoring opportunities.
Despite Katz's aggressive approach, Harsh managed to counterattack effectively. The decisive moment came at the 3:19 mark when Harsh executed a perfectly timed throw, earning a Waza-Ari and clinching the title.
Asmita Dey's Thrilling Final
Asmita's final was a closely fought contest, with both competitors engaged in intense grappling. Quach initially took the lead with a throw, but Asmita quickly responded, leveling the score despite a Shido penalty.
As the match progressed, Asmita's confidence grew, and she launched several attacks while defending against Quach's moves. With the scores tied at the end of regulation, the match entered Golden Score, where Asmita executed a well-timed throw to secure the Yuko and the gold medal.
India's Overall Medal Count
With these gold medal wins, India's total gold tally at the Commonwealth Games has reached five. The nation has now amassed 19 medals in Glasgow, comprising five gold, nine silver, and five bronze.
The gold medalists 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). Silver medals were earned 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 secured by Jhandu Kumar, Bindyarani Devi, Shilpa K Shyla, and Seema Kaliramna.