'Happy to win for country', says CWG 2026 gold medallist Harsh Singh
Glasgow, July 31
Indian judoka Harsh Singh expressed his delight at winning the Commonwealth Games 2026 men's 60kg gold medal for India and dedicated it to his mother after winning the title in Glasgow on Friday.
Harsh clinched the men's 60kg gold medal after defeating Australia's Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari (10-0) in the final. Harsh produced a disciplined display to secure India's second judo gold medal of the Games after Asmita Dey's gold medal-winning performance in the 48kg judo earlier in the day.
Speaking to ANI, Harsh Singh said he was delighted to win the medal for India, dedicating his triumph to his mother.
"I am feeling really happy to win this medal for the country. We had prepared to win today. I dedicate this medal to my mother. If qualified, I will prepare well for the Asian Games and give my best to win the medal," he said.
Katz began the final aggressively, looking to seize an early advantage, but Harsh defended resolutely and denied the Australian any scoring opportunities. Both judokas exchanged attacks during the opening stages, with neither able to gain a decisive edge.
The Australian came close to pinning Harsh at one stage, but the Indian escaped the hold before immediately launching a counterattack of his own. Despite the flurry of action, neither judoka managed to register a score for much of the contest.
At the 3:19 mark, Harsh delivered the decisive moment of the final. He executed a perfectly timed throw before pinning Katz to earn a Waza-Ari, which proved enough to secure the victory and the Commonwealth Games title.
Harsh's triumph earned India its second judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 and the country's fifth gold overall at the Games. India has now won 19 medals in Glasgow, comprising five gold, nine silver and five bronze.
India's gold medallists are Mirabai Chanu (women's 48kg weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (women's shot put F57), Dilip Gavit (men's 100m T47), Asmita Dey (women's 48kg judo) and Harsh Singh (men's 60kg judo). The country's silver medals have come through Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Gyaneshwari Yadav, Sarvesh Kushare, Valluri Ajaya Babu, Harjinder Kaur, Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar, Mohammed Basil and Lovepreet Singh, while bronze medals have been won by Jhandu Kumar, Bindyarani Devi, Shilpa K Shyla and Seema Kaliramna.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The way he defended against Katz's aggressive start and then pulled off that Waza-Ari at 3:19 was textbook judo! 🥋 His patience and composure under pressure is a lesson for all young athletes. Hope the government supports him for Asian Games preparation.
Amazing achievement! But I hope our sports authorities don't just celebrate him now and forget about him later. The Asian Games is going to be much tougher. Proper coaching, nutrition, and international exposure are needed. Let's not repeat the same mistakes we've done with other athletes.
Two judo golds in a single day! Asmita Dey and now Harsh Singh – Indian judo is on fire! 🔥 The federation deserves credit for the preparation. 19 medals overall is a solid tally. Keep it up, Team India!
The dedication to his mother is what made me emotional. 😢 So many Indian athletes come from humble backgrounds and their success stories are truly inspiring. Congratulations Harsh! You've made every Indian proud!
Great performance from Harsh Singh. That escape from the pin attempt was the turning point – most judokas would have panicked but he stayed calm and turned it into victory. Well-deserved gold for India.
K Kavya N