Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh secure India’s first Commonwealth judo golds
Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh won gold medals to give India its first ever judo titles at the Commonwealth Games. Harsh Singh emerged victorious in the men's -60kg final, defeating Australia's Joshua Katz to become the country's first male judoka to claim Commonwealth gold.
Asmita Dey’s triumph marked a milestone as the first time an Indian athlete has taken a judo gold at the Commonwealth Games. Harsh Singh’s success followed in the men’s -60kg division, where he produced an unexpected victory over Australia's vastly experienced Joshua Katz. Together, their results represent the first Commonwealth judo golds on India’s record.
Harsh Singh secured the men's -60kg crown by overcoming Joshua Katz in the final. The result was described as an upset against Katz, whose experience had marked him out as a strong favourite. Singh’s victory made him the first Indian man to lift a Commonwealth judo title, ending a long wait for gold at this level.
Asmita Dey’s achievement is historic for Indian judo as a whole, with her gold being the first of its kind for the country at the Commonwealth Games. Her win put India on the podium at the Games in judo for the first time with the highest honour. The significance of that breakthrough was reinforced by Singh’s subsequent success in the men’s competition.
Both medals carry the distinction of being the inaugural Commonwealth judo golds for India. The dual successes in the sport came in separate events but together signal a watershed moment in the nation’s performance at the Games. Each athlete’s gold medal stands on its own merit while contributing to the same historic milestone.
The two wins will be recorded as firsts in India’s Commonwealth Games history for judo, with Asmita Dey noted as the first Indian to win a judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and Harsh Singh identified as the first male judoka from India to win the title. Their victories will remain landmark results for Indian judo in the Commonwealth context.