Indian judokas Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh won gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, marking the first time India has secured gold in judo [1, 2].

These victories represent a historic milestone for Indian martial arts, breaking a long-standing drought in the sport at the Commonwealth level. The dual wins signal a rise in the competitive standing of India's judo program on the international stage.

Asmita Dey competed in the women's -48 kg category [3]. In the final, she defeated Heidi Quach of Canada with a 2-1 score by Yuko [5]. This victory established Dey as the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal [1].

Harsh Singh secured gold in the men's -60 kg category [4]. Singh won his final match against Australia's Joshua Katz to complete the historic double for India [6].

Together, the pair delivered two gold medals for the nation during the 2026 Games [2]. While some reports noted the achievements on Aug. 1, the final for Dey took place on July 31 [2, 3].

“India's first ever Commonwealth Games judo golds”

The achievement of Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh marks a pivotal shift in India's sporting portfolio. By securing their first-ever gold medals in judo, India has demonstrated a growing capability to compete in technical combat sports beyond wrestling. This success may lead to increased funding and institutional support for judo within India's national sports framework.