CWG 2026: President Murmu congratulates Asmita Dey, Harsh Singh on historic Judo golds

Asmita Dey weathered two consecutive sudden-death overtime battles to secure gold, while Harsh Singh spent the majority of his final absorbing pressure before a single, decisive strike. These contrasting paths to victory on July 31, 2026, delivered India its first-ever gold medals in judo at the Commonwealth Games.

Dey, competing in the women's 48kg category, relied on mental endurance to navigate the "Golden Score" mechanic—a sudden-death period where the first athlete to register a score wins. In the final against Canada's Heidi Quach, the contest remained locked after regulation time, despite Quach scoring an early throw and Dey receiving a Shido penalty before leveling the score. Dey eventually secured the gold with a 2-1 Yuko victory by executing a well-timed throw near the mat's edge during the Golden Score period, according to Mathrubhumi.

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This was the second time in a single day that Dey used the Golden Score to advance. In her semifinal against Scotland's four-time senior British champion Sumer Shaw, she emerged victorious by Yuko (1-0) after a bout lasting 6:27 minutes, ANI reported.

While some accounts described Harsh Singh's victory in the men's 60kg final as commanding, the tactical reality was a game of patience. Singh faced an aggressive offensive from Australia's Joshua Katz, who nearly pinned the Indian judoka during intense exchanges. The match remained scoreless until the 3:19 mark, when Singh executed a low tai-otoshi throw and a subsequent pin to score a 10-0 Waza-Ari, according to Outlook India and Mathrubhumi.

Singh, 23, reached the final after a dominant Ippon over Malawi's Chikondi Kathewera in the round of 16, a win over Vanuatu's Alan Monthouel in the quarterfinals, and a semifinal victory against Australia's Pedro Carlos Antun Neto.

The judo contingent's run nearly resulted in a third gold, but Yamini Mourya settled for silver in the women's 57kg event. Mourya lost to England's Acelya Toprak in a final decided by penalties; Mourya accumulated three Shido penalties, resulting in a red card and a victory by Ippon for Toprak, The Economic Times reported.

India's Medal Standing (Post-Judo Finals)

Medal Type	Count	Notable Gold Medallists
Gold	5	Asmita Dey, Harsh Singh, Mirabai Chanu, Sharmila Dhankar, Dilip Gavit
Silver	9	Yamini Mourya (Judo), others
Bronze	5	-
Total	19	-

The achievements sparked immediate reactions from India's highest leadership. President Murmu praised the athletes' "determination, skill, composure, and perseverance," while Union Home Minister Amit Shah described Dey's victory as a "brilliant showcase of talent" via News.webindia123.

"Your exceptional display of skill, composure and tenacity has earned India yet another glorious sporting moment."

President Murmu, via News Webindia123

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan added that the triumphs were proof of years of dedication and discipline. He stated that the success of Dey and Singh would serve to motivate future generations of Indian judokas.

Path to the Podium

The breakthroughs occurred in rapid succession on July 31, 2026. Asmita Dey established the momentum by winning the women's 48kg crown, and according to News Webindia123, Harsh Singh followed within an hour to secure the men's 60kg title. While Dey remained unbeaten throughout her campaign, Singh's run was marked by a series of progressive victories over opponents from Malawi, Vanuatu, and Australia.

The impact of these victories extended beyond the judo mats, shifting India's overall medal trajectory. Before the judo finals, ANI reported that India held 17 medals, including only three golds. The addition of Dey and Singh's titles pushed the gold tally to five and the total count to 19.

In boxing, the contingent achieved a clean sweep of the semifinals, with 10 boxers advancing to the finals. This group includes Jaismine, who earned a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) victory over Maselela, and Narender, who won a unanimous decision against Paul. Additionally, Jadumani secured a place in the men's 55kg final after defeating Haoseb via unanimous decision, as detailed by The Economic Times.

In the men's javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra faced a challenging final after a qualification throw of 79.61m. Despite a best throw of 85.83m, a foul on his penultimate attempt left him fighting to overhaul the leading mark set by competitors including Arshad Nadeem and Anderson Peters. For the boxing squad, the next step is the series of gold medal bouts scheduled for Saturday.