Harsh Tokas Aims for Historic Gold at Commonwealth Games 2026
Harsh Tokas Sets His Sights on Commonwealth Games Glory
New Delhi, July 26: Indian judoka Harsh Tokas is determined to make history at the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Competing in the 81kg category, he aspires to be the first Indian to clinch a gold medal in judo at this prestigious event.
The 23-year-old athlete, who will be debuting at the Commonwealth Games, expressed his commitment to rigorous training, stating, “My preparation has been intense over the last few months. I am giving my all for this opportunity. Competing at this level is a unique experience, and I aim to perform freely. My ultimate goal is gold. No Indian has ever achieved this in judo at the Commonwealth Games, so winning would be a remarkable milestone for our country,” Tokas shared.
Tokas has progressed through India's judo ranks, making a name for himself on the Asian circuit. He earned a bronze medal at the 2018 Macau Cadets Asian Cup and achieved a top-eight finish at the Asian Cadet Championships that same year. Additionally, he placed among the top five at the 2019 Asia-Oceania Cadet Championships.
Now competing in the senior 81kg category, Tokas secured his spot on India's Commonwealth Games team through the national selection process. He will join a six-member men's judo team heading to Glasgow.
India is looking to achieve its first-ever gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games. The nation’s best performance in this sport was at the 2014 Glasgow Games, where Indian judokas won four medals, including two silvers and two bronzes.
The Indian judo team is set to depart for Glasgow on July 27, with competitions commencing on July 31 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC).
Initially, the judo contingent consisted of 14 members, but it has been reduced to 12 following the withdrawal of men's 73kg judoka Arun Kumar due to a positive anti-doping test and Birmingham 2022 silver medallist Tulika Maan, who is under provisional suspension for whereabouts failures.
Despite these challenges, Tokas remains a key medal contender as he prepares for his first Commonwealth Games, aiming to make history for India.