GLASGOW/AGARTALA: Tripura’s Asmita Dey scripted history on Friday, becoming the first Indian judoka — male or female — to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, triumphing in the women’s 48 kg category at CWG 2026 in Glasgow.
The 23-year-old from Belonia defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach in the final, recovering from an early deficit after conceding a yuko and a penalty to level the contest, before the bout went into a sudden-death Golden Score period, where she landed a decisive throw to seal the gold.
Asmita’s journey to the podium began not on the judo mat but on the running track — she started out as an 800m runner before a coach introduced her to judo, redirecting her sporting career. She dedicated the win to her coach and seniors, revealing she had competed while carrying personal grief after her father’s death in December 2025.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha congratulated Dey, saying she had once again brought glory to the state on the international stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed her performance on social media, calling it a golden performance that would inspire the sport’s growth in India.