CWG 2026: Asmita Dey wins India's first-ever judo gold at Commonwealth Games
Synopsis
For the first time in Commonwealth Games history, India has a judo gold medallist. Asmita Dey — daughter of a bicycle-shop owner from Belonia, Tripura — beat Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 via Golden Score in Glasgow to claim the women's 48kg title, capping a journey from the 800m track to the top of the CWG podium.
Key Takeaways
Asmita Dey won India's first-ever judo gold at the Commonwealth Games on 1 August 2026 in Glasgow .
She defeated Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 via a Golden Score in the women's 48kg final.
Asmita, 23 , is from Belonia, Tripura and trained at the SAI Regional Centre in Bhopal under coach Yashpal Solanki .
She is a member of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) development group.
Manik Saha and Sports Minister Tinku Roy both praised the achievement as historic for the state and the nation.
Prior milestones include gold at the 2023 Junior Asia Cup and her first senior title at the 2025 African Open in Casablanca .
Asmita Dey, a 23-year-old judoka from Belonia, Tripura, made history on 1 August 2026 by becoming India's first-ever judo gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games, defeating Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 via a dramatic Golden Score to claim the women's 48kg title in Glasgow. The breakthrough win drew immediate praise from Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who called it an achievement that would inspire generations of young athletes across the country.
The Road to Gold
Asmita's path through the draw was as commanding as her final. She dispatched Scotland's Eva Ewing by ippon in the quarter-finals before edging past home favourite Summer Shaw in a tightly contested semi-final. In the gold-medal bout, she kept her composure against Quach and sealed victory with a Golden Score against Yuko — a moment that rewrote Indian judo history.
From a Bicycle Shop to the Commonwealth Podium
Born on 22 March 2003 in Belonia, Tripura, Asmita comes from a modest background — her father, Arjun Kumar Dey, runs a bicycle repair shop. She initially competed in the 800 metres before a coach spotted her potential and redirected her to judo. She trained under Bina Debnath at the Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre and later under Manik Lal Deb at the Tripura Sports School. In 2018, she earned a place at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Bhopal, where she worked under coach Yashpal Solanki, and subsequently joined the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) development group.
A Career Built on Milestones
Inspired by Indian judoka Avtar Singh and Japanese star Uta Abe, Asmita had already been stacking credentials before Glasgow. She became the first judoka from Tripura to win an international medal, at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Competition in 2022. A gold at the 2023 Junior Asia Cup followed, along with a silver at the Asian Open in Kuwait. Her first senior international title came at the 2025 African Open in Casablanca, Morocco — setting the stage for her Commonwealth breakthrough.
Political and Sporting Tributes Pour In
'Asmita Dey, a daughter of Tripura, has once again brought glory to the state on the international stage. Her dedication, hard work, and self-confidence will continue to inspire the younger generation of the country,' said Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha in his congratulatory message. Tripura Sports Minister Tinku Roy echoed the sentiment: 'The entire nation of India is proud of the historic success of Tripura's daughter Asmita Dey. Asmita's unique achievement will inspire, encourage, and motivate countless athletes of the coming generation to dream and achieve bigger goals.'
What This Win Means for Indian Judo
India has competed at the Commonwealth Games for decades, yet no judoka had stood atop the podium until now. Asmita's gold at CWG 2026 is not just a personal milestone — it signals a maturing pipeline in Indian judo, with TOPS and SAI regional centres producing results at the senior level. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, her trajectory will be closely watched by selectors and fans alike.
Point of View
Not from a metropolitan academy but from a small town in Tripura. Yet the story also surfaces a quiet concern: that it took until 2026 for India to win its first Commonwealth judo gold points to how long the sport has operated without adequate elite pathways. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, the question is whether the system can replicate this outcome at scale, or whether Asmita remains a singular exception rather than the leading edge of a new wave.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Asmita Dey and why is her CWG 2026 gold historic?
Asmita Dey is a 23-year-old judoka from Belonia, Tripura, who on 1 August 2026 became India's first-ever judo gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games. She won the women's 48kg title in Glasgow by defeating Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 via a Golden Score.
How did Asmita Dey win the gold medal at CWG 2026?
Asmita beat Scotland's Eva Ewing by ippon in the quarter-finals, narrowly defeated home favourite Summer Shaw in the semi-final, and then overcame Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 via a Golden Score in the final to secure the women's 48kg gold.
What is Asmita Dey's sporting background?
Asmita initially competed in the 800 metres before switching to judo. She trained at the Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre, the Tripura Sports School, and later the SAI Regional Centre in Bhopal under coach Yashpal Solanki. She is part of the TOPS development group.
What did Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha say about Asmita Dey's win?
Dr. Manik Saha said: 'Asmita Dey, a daughter of Tripura, has once again brought glory to the state on the international stage. Her dedication, hard work, and self-confidence will continue to inspire the younger generation of the country.'
What are Asmita Dey's previous international achievements?
Asmita won a medal at the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Competition in 2022 — the first by a judoka from Tripura — followed by gold at the 2023 Junior Asia Cup, silver at the Asian Open in Kuwait, and her first senior international title at the 2025 African Open in Casablanca, Morocco.
