Asmita Dey delivered a defining moment for Indian judo at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by becoming the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the sport. The 23-year-old defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach 2-1 in the women’s 48kg final, achieving a milestone that will be remembered in Indian sporting history.

The victory was much more than a gold medal. It marked the culmination of years of persistence, sacrifice, and unwavering belief from a family that faced severe financial hardships.

A difficult childhood in Tripura shaped her journey

Asmita was raised in a small village in Tripura, where life revolved around making ends meet. Her late father worked as a bicycle mechanic and earned around ₹300 a day. The family lived in a mud house, and pursuing competitive sport was never an easy path.

Even with limited resources, her father stood firmly behind her dream. His encouragement gave Asmita the confidence to continue chasing success despite the obstacles that stood in her way.

Following her historic triumph in Glasgow, the Indian judoka fought back tears as she remembered the man who first believed in her.

“When my father passed away, I thought everything had finished because he was the one who supported me,” she said, struggling to hold back tears after her historic triumph.

“I am from a very small village in Tripura. People there don’t dream this big. But Papa always supported me,” said Asmita, who lost her father seven years ago after he suffered a brain stroke, but his faith in her continued to inspire her throughout her journey.

Coach Manik Lal Deb saw her potential early

Asmita’s talent was spotted when she was only 12 years old during a talent identification programme. She was selected by Manik Lal Deb, a judo coach at the Agartala Sports Hostel, who immediately noticed qualities that set her apart.

Deb recalled the emotional conversation he had with Asmita’s father when she left home to begin training. “When he came to send her off, he told me, ‘Sir, we are very small people. Help Asmita become something. Help her do something big.’ I told him if she works hard, there’s nothing that will stop her,” Deb was quoted saying.

According to the veteran coach, Asmita impressed even before she had formal judo training, thanks to her natural athletic ability.

“We weren’t looking for judo players. We were just looking for children who were physically gifted with good motor ability. Asmita was small, but she was very explosive,” he said.

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Deb also reflected on the dreams Asmita’s father had for his daughter. “It was, of course, a big help to her father that he didn’t have to feed one child, but he wanted big things for her. He wanted her to escape the conditions of her life,” he added.

Commonwealth Games gold completes an extraordinary journey

Asmita Dey’s victory in Glasgow is a landmark achievement for Indian judo. Her success has placed her in the record books as the country’s first Commonwealth Games judo champion while highlighting a journey built on resilience and hard work.

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From a small village in Tripura to the top step of the Commonwealth Games podium, Asmita’s career has reached a historic milestone, fulfilling a dream that her father encouraged from the very beginning.

FAQs

Why is Asmita Dey’s CWG 2026 gold historic?

Asmita Dey became the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo.

Who did Asmita Dey defeat to win the gold medal?

She defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach 2-1 in the women’s 48kg final.