Indian Judokas Shine at Commonwealth Games 2026 with Gold Medals
Historic Achievements in Judo
On July 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Indian judokas Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey for their remarkable gold medal victories at the Commonwealth Games 2026 held in Glasgow. He commended their hard work and expressed that their achievements would significantly enhance the popularity of judo in India.
Harsh Singh triumphed in the men's 60kg category, defeating Australia's Joshua Katz with a decisive Waza-Ari (10-0) in the final match. Meanwhile, Asmita showcased her skills by overcoming Canada's Heidi Quach, winning by Yuko (2-1) in a display of determination and composure.
In a post on X, PM Modi praised Harsh Singh for his outstanding 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 contribution to popularizing judo in India and wishing her success in her future pursuits. He remarked, "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."
Harsh's disciplined approach secured India’s second judo gold of the Games, following Asmita's earlier victory. The final match saw Katz starting aggressively, but Harsh's solid defense thwarted any scoring attempts from the Australian. The initial exchanges were intense, with neither judoka gaining a clear advantage.
At one point, Katz nearly pinned Harsh, but the Indian judoka managed to escape and counterattack. The match remained scoreless until Harsh executed a perfectly timed throw at the 3:19 mark, pinning Katz and earning a Waza-Ari, which clinched him the Commonwealth Games title.
Asmita's final bout was equally competitive, with both athletes engaged in fierce grappling. Quach initially took the lead with a throw, but Asmita quickly responded, leveling the score despite a Shido penalty against her. As the match progressed, Asmita grew more confident, launching several attacks while defending against Quach's efforts.
With the score tied at the end of regulation, the match went into Golden Score, where the first to score would win. Asmita maintained her composure and executed a well-timed throw near the mat's edge, securing the Yuko and the gold medal.
These victories brought India's total gold medal count at the Games to five, contributing to an overall tally of 19 medals, which includes five gold, nine silver, and five bronze. The gold medalists from India also include Mirabai Chanu (women's 48kg weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (women's shot put F57), and Dilip Gavit (men's 100m T47).