Asmita Dey shares emotional story after historic gold medal win at Commonwealth Games 2026
Asmita Dey etched her name in Indian judo history in Glasgow
Indian judoka Asmita Dey clinched gold in the women’s 48 kg event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 31. She helped India earn its first-ever CWG gold medal in Judo.
The 23-year-old fighter made her CWG debut at the Glasgow Games, facing Canada’s Heidi Quach in the final. The contest at the SEC Centre was a gripping one. Quach took a lead after 92 seconds with a successful throw, but Asmita equalised after the two-minute mark.
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With the scores level, the match went to Golden Score, where Asmita completed an incredible comeback win after 4 minutes and 25 seconds, clinching her maiden CWG medal. It was a historic moment, ending India’s wait for their first CWG gold in judo.
For Asmita, however, the win was a vindication of the faith shown in her by her late father, Arjun Kumar Dey, who earned 300 rupees daily from his bicycle repair shop in Belonia, Tripura.
Despite such modest means, Asmita’s father supported her journey as a judoka every step of the way. However, his death last year was a shock to the young fighter. She then had to overcome the grief of losing her biggest supporter.
“When my father passed away, I thought everything had finished because he was the one who supported me,” an emotional Asmita said after the match. “I am from a very small village in Tripura. People there don’t dream this big. But Papa always supported me.”
“In between, I had a knee injury; my father came to Delhi and gave me medicines,” she added. “Suddenly, my father died of a brain stroke in December 2025. After that, I thought everything was over; I won’t be able to do anything.”
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026 (CWG) Day 9 Live Updates
Mother’s support kept Asmita Dey’s CWG dream alive
Following her father’s death, Asmita, a former Junior Asian champion, did not see a way forward. However, support from her mother, who, in Asmita’s words, did not understand much about judo, was crucial in that phase.
“After 10 days of my father’s death, my mother sent me to training, saying, ‘If I stop you today, your father will think I am shattering your dreams,’” Asmita said. “So I returned to SAI Bhopal and trained there.”
Related: CWG 2026: India’s medal tally after Day 8, 31st July
Support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Bhopal was also important for the judoka, who was battling her inner struggles while facing world-class opponents on the mat. She extended her gratitude to SAI Director Yashpal Solanki, fellow judoka Vijay Kumar Yadav, and her childhood coaches for helping her clinch India’s maiden judo gold in the tournament.
Where and when will Commonwealth Games 2026 take place?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
What did Asmita Dey achieve at Commonwealth Games 2026?
She won India’s first‑ever CWG judo gold medal, clinching the women’s 48 kg final against Canada’s Heidi Quach in Glasgow.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.