India’s Asmita Dey scripted a landmark moment in the country’s sporting history by clinching the nation’s first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo. The 23-year-old overcame Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final after a tense golden score battle.
The victory ended India’s long-standing quest for a judo gold at the Commonwealth Games. While Indian judokas have consistently featured on the podium since the sport made its Commonwealth debut at the 1990 Auckland Games, the elusive gold had remained out of reach until now.
Asmita faced a stern challenge from Quach in a tightly fought final. The Canadian drew first blood with a Yuko, while the Indian also received a shido penalty early in the contest. Undeterred, Asmita bounced back with a Yuko of her own to restore parity and keep her hopes alive.
With the scores level at the end of regulation time, the contest moved into golden score, where a single successful move would decide the champion. Remaining calm under pressure, Asmita launched a decisive attack to score the winning Yuko and seal a historic triumph.
The victory marks a defining achievement for Indian judo, with Asmita becoming the country’s first Commonwealth Games champion in the sport and adding a golden chapter to India’s judo legacy.