History in Glasgow: Asmita Dey Wins India’s First-Ever Commonwealth Games Judo Gold

India celebrated a historic milestone at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Asmita Dey became the country's first-ever judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. The 23-year-old from Tripura produced a remarkable performance to defeat Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in a dramatic Women's -48kg final at the SEC Centre in Glasgow on Friday.

Scripting history on the judo mat! 🥋🥇🇮🇳

Heartiest congratulations to our Khelo India athlete Asmita Dey on winning Gold in the Women's 48kg event at the Commonwealth Games 2026. She has etched her name in history as the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold… pic.twitter.com/Lk3TMzNnsA

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 31, 2026

The championship clash was a gripping contest of skill and determination. Quach gained an early advantage with an aggressive throw while Dey also received an early shido penalty. Showing exceptional composure, the Indian judoka fought back with a perfectly timed throw to level the contest 1-1 before regulation ended.

The final then entered the decisive Golden Score overtime. Maintaining superb grip control near the edge of the mat, Dey executed a flawless winning throw to seal a memorable 2-1 victory and script history for Indian judo.

Asmita's road to gold was equally impressive. She began her campaign with an emphatic ippon victory over Scotland's Eva Ewing in the quarterfinals before overcoming local favourite Sarah Adlington in a hard-fought Golden Score semifinal. She then completed her dream run by defeating Canada's Heidi Quach in the final.

Born on March 22, 2003, in Belonia, South Tripura, Asmita's journey is one of perseverance and dedication. The daughter of a bicycle repair shop owner, she initially competed in the 800m before switching to judo in 2015 after her potential was recognised by a coach. She trained at the Tripura Sports School under coaches Bina Debnath and Manik Lal Deb, later moving to the Sports Authority of India Regional Centre in Bhopal to further develop her skills.

Before Glasgow, Asmita had already established herself on the international stage by winning gold at the Junior Asia Cup in Macau and silver at the Asian Open in Kuwait City.

Her historic triumph not only adds a golden chapter to India's Commonwealth Games campaign but also marks a landmark moment for Indian judo, inspiring a new generation of athletes across the country.