Asmita Dey entered her name in the history books on Friday (July 31) by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games. The 23-year-old judoka defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach (via golden score) to win the yellow metal for India in the women’s 48kg judo event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026.
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The 23-year-old Asmita from Tripura found herself on the back foot early in the final after conceding a yuko and then receiving a penalty, allowing Quach to take control of the bout.
However, Asmita responded brilliantly, attacking with greater intent and levelling the scores at 1-1 shortly after the midway stage of the four-minute contest.
Neither judoka could find
the decisive score during regulation time despite a series of intense exchanges, forcing the match into the Golden Score period, where the first scoring action determines the winner.
Maintaining her composure under pressure, Asmita launched a decisive attack in sudden-death overtime and earned another yuko to seal a memorable victory and hand India the gold medal.
HISTORIC GOLD! 🥇 🥋
Asmita Dey creates history, becoming the first Indian judoka to win Commonwealth Games Gold, defeating her opponent by Yuko in the Women’s -48kg Final. ✨
Watch the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony… pic.twitter.com/b3g6NUlXS9
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 31, 2026
Before getting the better of Quach in the gold medal match, Asmita defeated Scotland’s Eva Ewing in the quarterfinal and compatriot Summer Shaw in the semifinal.
In previous editions of the Commonwealth Games, Indian judokas had won five silver and six bronze medals.
Narender Singh was the first Indian to win a medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games. He won a bronze medal at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland in the men’s extra-lightweight category.
Shushila Likmabam is the only Indian judoka to have won multiple Commonwealth Games medals. She won a silver medal in the women’s 48kg judo event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and followed it up with another silver in the 48kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Indians to win medal in judo at Commonwealth Games
| EDITION | HOST CITY | MEDAL | CATEGORY | JUDOKA |
| 1990 | Auckland | Bronze | Men’s Extra Lightweight | Narender Singh |
| 1990 | Auckland | Bronze | Men’s Middleweight | Rajender Dhanger |
| 2002 | Manchester | Silver | Men’s 60 kg | Akram Shah |
| 2002 | Manchester | Bronze | Men’s 66 kg | Bhupinder Singh |
| 2014 | Glasgow | Silver | Men’s 60 kg | Navjot Chana |
| 2014 | Glasgow | Silver | Women’s 48 kg | Shushila Likmabam |
| 2014 | Glasgow | Bronze | Women’s 52 kg | Kalpana Thoudam |
| 2014 | Glasgow | Bronze | Women’s +78 kg | Rajwinder Kaur |
| 2022 | Birmingham | Bronze | Men’s 60 kg | Vijay Kumar Yadav |
| 2022 | Birmingham | Silver | Women’s 48 kg | Shushila Likmabam |
| 2022 | Birmingham | Silver | Women’s +78 kg | Tulika Maan |
| 2026 | Glasgow | Gold | Women’s 48 kg | Asmita Dey |
Asmita’s gold was India’s first medal in judo at the ongoing CWG 2026.
India could add a couple more gold medals in judo on Friday, with Harsh Singh and Yamini also set to compete for the top prize later on Friday.
18 medals so far for India at CWG 2026
Asmita’s gold was India’s 18th medal overall at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. Indian athletes have won four gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals so far.
India are set to add at least 11 more medals to their tally, with two judokas and nine boxers assured of returning from Glasgow with a medal.
