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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey after the Indian judokas secured gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, describing it as a “historic day” for Indian judo.The two victories marked India’s first-ever double gold in judo at a single Commonwealth Games and took the country’s gold medal tally to five. India has now won 19 medals overall in Glasgow, comprising five gold, nine silver and five bronze.Harsh triumphed in the men’s 60kg category, while Asmita claimed the women’s 48kg title after both produced composed performances in their respective finals.
PM Modi hails India’s judo champions
Congratulating both athletes individually on X, Modi praised their performances and said their achievements would inspire greater interest in judo across the country.Congratulating Harsh Singh, Modi wrote:“Historic Day for Indian Judo! Congrats to Harsh Singh for winning a Gold. His passion and dedication are clearly reflected in the exceptional performance. Best wishes for the upcoming endeavours.”Soon afterwards, the Prime Minister praised Asmita Dey’s title-winning display, saying:“A golden performance indeed! Proud of Asmita Dey for winning a Gold in the Judo Women’s 48KG Final! This performance will always be remembered and will contribute towards Judo becoming even more popular. Best wishes for her endeavours ahead.”
Harsh Singh overcomes Joshua Katz to seal men’s 60kg title
Harsh produced a disciplined tactical display to defeat Australia’s Joshua Katz in the men’s 60kg final and secure India’s second judo gold medal of the day.Katz began aggressively, looking to establish an early advantage, but Harsh defended confidently and prevented the Australian from creating any scoring opportunities.The contest remained evenly balanced through the opening exchanges, with both judokas launching attacks but neither able to gain a decisive edge.At one stage, Katz came close to pinning Harsh on the mat, but the Indian escaped the hold before immediately launching a counterattack of his own.
Glasgow: India’s Harsh Singh, in blue, competes against Australia’s Antun Neto Pedro Carlos during a men’s 60kg semifinal judo match at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland. Singh stormed into the finals and will face Australia’s Joshua Katz. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) (PTI07_31_2026_000414A) *** Local Caption ***
Despite the sustained pressure from both competitors, neither judoka managed to score for much of the contest.The decisive moment arrived with 3:19 remaining on the clock.Harsh executed a perfectly timed throw before pinning Katz, earning a Waza-Ari that proved enough to secure a 10-0 victory and the Commonwealth Games gold medal.
Asmita Dey battles through Golden Score to win women’s 48kg crown
Earlier in the day, Asmita Dey had opened India’s golden run with a hard-fought victory over Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final.The bout began as an evenly contested contest, with both judokas engaged in intense grappling exchanges while repeatedly forcing one another towards the edge of the mat.Quach struck first midway through the contest, executing a throw to move ahead.Asmita responded strongly despite receiving a Shido penalty, producing a quick throw of her own to level the scores and shift the momentum. She grew increasingly confident as the contest progressed, launching a series of attacking moves while defending resolutely against Quach’s attempts to regain the lead.
India’s Asmita Dey, left, and Scotland’s Summer Shaw compete in the Women’s 48kg Judo semi final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday, July 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
With neither athlete able to separate themselves by the end of regulation time, the final moved into Golden Score, where the first successful scoring action would decide the champion.Asmita kept her composure during the extra period and delivered a perfectly timed throw near the edge of the mat to earn the decisive Yuko, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory and India’s first judo gold of the Games.
Landmark day for Indian judo
The two victories ensured a memorable day for India’s judo contingent, with Harsh becoming the country’s second judo gold medallist of the Games after Asmita had opened the account earlier in the day.Their triumphs also significantly strengthened India’s medal tally in Glasgow, taking the country’s overall haul to 19 medals, including five gold, nine silver and five bronze. The two victories also marked India’s first-ever double gold in judo at a single Commonwealth Games, adding a historic milestone to the country’s campaign.
