Asmita Dey scripts history, becomes first-ever Indian judoko to clinch gold in Commonwealth Games

Judoka Asmita Dey has certainly become India's golden girl as she created history at the Commonwealth Games 2026 on July 31. Asmita Dey sealed India's first-ever CWG gold medal for India in Judo.

Asmita Dey grabs historic CWG gold for India in judo

She got the better of Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 to in the Women's 48kg Judo final to taste the history in Glasgow. This was India's fourth gold in the ongoing Commonwealth Games.

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Asmita’s victory marked a historic milestone for Indian judo, delivering the nation’s very first medal of the 2026 Games and its inaugural gold in the sport's CWG history. Prior to this breakthrough, India’s all-time Commonwealth judo haul stood at 11 medals—five silvers and six bronzes. The legacy began in 1990 when Narender Singh claimed bronze in the men’s extra-lightweight division in Auckland, while Shushila Likmabam later became the country's sole multi-medalist by capturing back-to-back 48kg silvers at Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022.

The gold rush in Glasgow may not stop here, as teammates Harsh Singh and Yamini are also scheduled to fight for top-step finishes later today. Asmita’s win pushed India’s total medal count to 18 (comprising four golds, 10 silvers, and four bronzes). With two more judokas in finals and nine boxers already guaranteed podium spots, the Indian contingent is positioned to expand its overall tally by at least 11 more medals before the Games conclude.

Asmita stages stunning comeback to taste glory in Glasgow

Talking about the match, the gold medal clash opened as a tense game of tactical chess, with both competitors relentlessly battling for leverage and pushing each other toward the boundary lines. Canada’s Heidi Quach grabbed the early upper hand by landing a crisp throw to take the lead, immediately putting Asmita Dey on the back foot.

Faced with an early deficit and a Shido penalty, the Indian judoka remained completely composed. Dey swung the momentum back in her favor by executing a perfectly timed throw to pull even, maintaining a fierce work rate while locking down her defense to force the match into Golden Score.

With sudden death activated, Dey delivered her masterstroke. Working near the edge of the mat, she uncorked a clinical throw to score the winning Yuko, capping an grueling tournament run that also included a hard-fought Golden Score victory over Scotland’s Sumer Shaw in the semifinals.

Dey’s dramatic victory delivered India’s fourth gold medal of the Glasgow Games, joining champions Mirabai Chanu, Sharmila Dhankar, and Dilip Gavit while adding another marquee moment to the country's rising tally.