For more than three decades, India kept knocking on the door of Commonwealth Games judo glory. The medals came in trickles - bronze here, silver there, but the coveted gold always remained just beyond reach. Then, in a matter of hours in Glasgow, the floodgates opened.
On July 31, 2026, India's long wait for a Commonwealth Games judo gold didn't just end, it exploded into a historic double delight. When it rains, it pours - and India's Judo cabinet witnessed a twin Gold in the span of an hour as Asmit Dey and Harsh Singh scripted history.
Asmita Dey strikes Historic Gold
First came Asmita Dey, the fearless 23-year-old from Tripura, who scripted history by defeating Canada's Heidi Quach in the women's -48kg final. Battling back from an early setback, Asmita forced the contest
into Golden Score before delivering the decisive moment that made her India's first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medallist.
Harsh Singh ensures second Gold
Before the celebrations could settle, Harsh Singh ensured history would repeat itself. The Indian judoka outclassed Australia's Joshua Katz in the men's -60kg final to become the first Indian man to win Commonwealth Games judo gold, capping off the greatest day Indian judo has ever witnessed.
The golden wave almost became a tidal surge. Yamini Mourya fought brilliantly to reach the women's 57kg final and returned with a silver medal, completing India's finest-ever Commonwealth Games judo campaign.
The significance of the achievement becomes even more remarkable when viewed against history. Before Glasgow, India had competed in Commonwealth Games judo for decades, collecting three silver and five bronze medals - but never a gold. That barren chapter vanished in a single afternoon as India doubled its all-time Commonwealth Games judo gold tally from zero to two.
The twin triumphs are also a testament to the steady rise of Indian judo, fuelled by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Khelo India, and an increasing number of athletes gaining international exposure. Glasgow 2026 may well be remembered as the tournament where Indian judo stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
India's Commonwealth Games Judo Medal Winners
| Year | Athlete | Category | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Narendra Singh | Men's 60kg | Bronze |
| 2002 | Gagan Thapa | Men's 66kg | Bronze |
| 2002 | Bindu K. | Women's 52kg | Bronze |
| 2014 | Navjot Chana | Women's 63kg | Silver |
| 2014 | Khushbir Singh | Men's 90kg | Bronze |
| 2014 | Rajwinder Kaur | Women's 78kg | Bronze |
| 2022 | Sushila Devi Likmabam | Women's 48kg | Silver |
| 2022 | Tulika Maan | Women's +78kg | Silver |
| 2026 | Asmita Dey | Women's 48kg | Gold |
| 2026 | Harsh Singh | Men's 60kg | Gold |
| 2026 | Yamini Mourya | Women's 57kg | Silver |
For years, Indian judo searched for a single ray of golden sunshine. Instead, the skies over Glasgow burst open. Sometimes history doesn't arrive one page at a time, it rewrites the entire chapter in a single day.
