CWG 2026: Asmita Dey wins judo gold, dedicates it to Yogi Adityanath
Synopsis
Asmita Dey's Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow is more than a sporting triumph — it is a testament to state-backed athlete support. The UP Police employee from Tripura, settled in Varanasi, defeated Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in the 48kg final while managing a weight-cut on the morning of the fight, and immediately credited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's job scheme as the lifeline that made it all possible.
Key Takeaways
Asmita Dey won the women's 48kg judo gold at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 31 July .
She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in the final.
Asmita dedicated the gold to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , crediting her UP Police job for enabling her preparation.
She hails from Tripura and is settled in Varanasi .
On the morning of the final, she was at 50 kg 300 g and had to manage her weight for a random weigh-in before competing.
The win is the biggest result of her career and adds to India's medal tally in Glasgow.
Indian judoka Asmita Dey claimed the women's 48kg judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Thursday, 31 July, defeating Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in a tightly fought final. Moments after her victory, Asmita dedicated the medal to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, crediting a job in the UP Police as the financial foundation that made her campaign possible.
The Gold-Medal Moment
The final against Quach was a closely contested affair, with Asmita combining disciplined defence with sharp tactical awareness to edge out the Canadian. She had progressed confidently through the preliminary rounds before delivering her best performance when it mattered most. The 2-1 scoreline reflected the narrow margin of a high-stakes contest.
What Asmita Said
'I am so happy with the gold. This is for all who supported me. I also want to thank Yogi ji for giving me the job in UP Police,' Asmita said after her victory. She elaborated further: 'Today, my mindset was simply that I am the best in 48 kg today, and I must win gold — for my country, for myself, my coach, my parents, everyone, and for my relatives as well... I work in the Uttar Pradesh Police, and I want to thank Yogi Adityanath because he gave me a job in the UP Police. Through that, I got support for my family, which enabled me to come here and win the gold medal.'
The Weight-Cut Challenge
Asmita also revealed the physical demands she faced on the morning of the final. 'Actually, I couldn't eat much because there is a random weigh-in, where you have to be under 50 kg. Already, when I woke up in the morning, I was at 50 kg 300 g, so I couldn't eat much. When my name came up for the random weigh-in, I had expected it, and after that, once I completed the random weigh-in, I ate and drank, and then an hour later I had my fight,' she said. The account underscores the physical discipline demanded of combat-sport athletes even on competition day.
Background and Context
Asmita, who hails from Tripura but is settled in Varanasi, has been building steadily toward this moment. Her employment with the UP Police — a government initiative to support sporting talent — provided the stability she says was critical to her preparation. This is the biggest result of her career to date and adds her name to India's list of Commonwealth Games gold medallists.
What It Means for Indian Judo
The victory adds to India's growing medal tally in Glasgow and reflects the country's improving trajectory in judo at the Commonwealth level. Notably, the sport has seen a steady influx of state-backed support for athletes in recent years, a model Asmita's own story exemplifies. Her achievement is expected to inspire a new generation of Indian judokas aiming for international honours.
Point of View
And Asmita's public acknowledgement of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inevitably be read through a political lens. What mainstream coverage may underplay is the structural detail: she competed on a near-empty stomach after a morning weigh-in scare, a reality that exposes the thin margins on which India's combat-sport athletes operate even at medal-winning level. The gold is real; the conditions that produced it deserve equal scrutiny.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Asmita Dey and what did she win at CWG 2026?
Asmita Dey is an Indian judoka from Tripura, settled in Varanasi, who won the women's 48kg judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on 31 July. She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in the final to claim the biggest victory of her career.
Why did Asmita Dey thank Yogi Adityanath after winning gold?
Asmita credited Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for giving her a job in the UP Police, which she said provided financial support for her family and enabled her to train and compete at the Commonwealth Games. She stated the job was a key reason she could win the gold medal.
How did Asmita Dey manage the weight-cut on the day of the final?
Asmita revealed she woke up at 50 kg 300 g on the morning of the final and could not eat much due to a mandatory random weigh-in requiring athletes to be under 50 kg. After clearing the weigh-in, she ate and drank before competing approximately an hour later.
Who did Asmita Dey defeat in the CWG 2026 judo final?
Asmita defeated Canada's Heidi Quach by a score of 2-1 in the women's 48kg judo final at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
What does Asmita Dey's gold mean for Indian judo?
The victory adds to India's growing medal tally at Glasgow 2026 and highlights the country's improving performance in judo at the Commonwealth level. It also draws attention to the state-backed employment model as a support mechanism for athletes in non-marquee sports.
