Asmita Dey honours late father after clinching India’s first Commonwealth judo gold
Asmita Dey won India’s first judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in a tense golden score final. After the victory she recalled her late father, saying, "I felt that everything was over." Harsh Singh also captured gold in the men’s 60kg judo event, giving India a pair of headline-making results.
The triumphs represented a landmark for Indian judo at the multi-sport meet, delivering a breakthrough on the mat. Dey’s win came in a closely contested final resolved in golden score, while Harsh Singh secured top honours in his weight category. Both outcomes followed accounts of substantial personal commitment and, in Dey’s case, the emotional backdrop of recent bereavement. Together the two titles signalled a notable day for India in Commonwealth judo competition.
Dey’s final against Heidi Quach went beyond the regular duration and required a golden score to determine a winner, underlining how narrowly decided the contest was. That decisive period produced the outcome that awarded India its maiden judo gold at the Games, an achievement described as historic. In the aftermath, Dey spoke about the difficulties she had navigated off the tatami; she said, "I felt that everything was over," referring to the loss she endured and the strain leading into the competition.
Harsh Singh’s gold in the men’s 60kg division complemented Dey’s success, giving the Indian judo contingent two gold medals at the event. His victory added weight to the assertion that these results marked progress for the sport nationally. The dual podium-topping performances were reported as twin triumphs and were framed together as a breakthrough for Indian judo at the Commonwealth level.
Both athletes’ achievements followed stories of intense effort and sacrifice, themes that coaches and supporters frequently highlight in elite competition. The gold medals came against tough opposition from Commonwealth nations and required both technical skill and mental resilience. Media accounts of the day noted the emotional resonance of Dey’s personal circumstances alongside the practical significance of Singh’s win.
The pair of golds will likely be remembered as a significant moment for India’s judo programme at the Commonwealth Games, marrying athletic success with poignant personal narrative. Dey’s remembrance of her father and Singh’s victory combined to create a memorable chapter for the country’s presence in the sport at the Games.