Asmita Dey made history at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She became the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. She defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach in a dramatic women’s 48kg final. The victory was even more special because it came just seven months after her father’s death.
The 23-year-old from a small village in Tripura struggled to hold back tears after her win. She remembered the man who had always believed in her. When her father passed away, she thought everything had finished because he was the one who supported her.
Asmita conceded an early yuko and received a penalty in the final. This allowed Quach to take control. But the Indian judoka fought back, levelled the contest, and kept her composure in the Golden Score period. She landed the decisive yuko to seal a famous victory.
After winning the gold medal, Asmita said her father always encouraged her to dream beyond the limits of their small village. People there don’t dream this big, but her father always supported her. She recalled how he stood by her during tough times. When she was injured, he came to Delhi for her treatment. He took care of everything.
Her mother also supported her, but did not have much time. Then suddenly on December 15, her father passed away. After that, she felt everything was over. She thought she could not achieve anything. But before leaving, her father told her to move forward with her dreams. He asked her to go to SAI Bhopal. She received great support there and that helped her move forward. Asmita thanked everyone who supported her on this journey.
Who Is Asmita Dey? Meet India’s First Commonwealth Games Judo Gold Medallist
Asmita Dey became the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. She achieved this in the women’s 48kg category on Friday. The 23-year-old from a small village in Tripura dedicated the victory to her father. He was a cycle mechanic who earned barely Rs 300 a day. He died of a brain stroke seven months ago.
After her historic triumph, Asmita struggled to hold back tears. She said that when her father passed away, she thought everything had finished. He was the one who supported her. The celebrations gave way to memories of the man who had carried her dream long before it became India’s dream. She said people from her small village do not dream this big, but her father always supported her.
Money was always scarce. Her father repaired bicycles for a living. He earned just enough to keep the household running. The family lived in a modest mud house. But he never allowed financial hardship to become a hurdle in her sporting career. When a knee injury threatened to derail her career, he took her to Delhi for treatment. He bought medicines and did everything within his means to ensure she could return to the mat.
His sudden death in December left Asmita devastated. She felt her dream of competing on the biggest stage was gone with him. But her mother quietly stepped into the role her husband had left behind. Just 10 days after the funeral, she asked her daughter to return to training. She said that if she stopped her now, her father would think she was shattering her dreams. Asmita packed her bags and returned to the SAI centre in Bhopal.
Ahead of the Commonwealth Games, she had full of anxiety and endured sleepless nights. She had worked so hard for the medal. Before the Games, she was unable to sleep in India. She stayed awake thinking about the fights. Even when her body was tired, she could not sleep. She felt restless and then woke up for training at 5.30 am. The nerves stayed with her after she arrived in Glasgow. She felt anxious but kept thinking she had to beat everyone and win.
Even small pleasures became reminders of the goal she was chasing. Her favourite sweet, called laung latta, was bought by her brother and remained untouched in the refrigerator back home. She almost ate it many times but stopped herself. On Friday, every sacrifice found its reward. The gold medal rewrote Indian judo’s record books and fulfilled the dream her father never got to see.
FAQs
Q. What did Asmita Dey achieve at the 2026 Commonwealth Games?
A. Asmita Dey won India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medal.
Q. Who did Asmita Dey defeat in the final?
A. Asmita Dey defeated Canada’s Heidi Quach.
Q. Why was Asmita Dey’s victory emotional?
A. Asmita Dey won the gold seven months after her father’s death.
Q. Which event did Asmita Dey win?
A. Asmita Dey won the women’s 48kg judo event.
Get the Latest Commonwealth Games News at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook & Instagram.
