Judokas eye Asian Games, Olympics glory after CWG's historic campaign
New Delhi, August 4
Indian judoka Harsh Singh described his Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medal as a dream achievement, saying the joy of becoming champion only truly sank in after his victory.
Despite reaching the top of the podium, he said his ambitions remain higher, with the Asian Games as his immediate focus and an Olympic medal as his ultimate goal.
Indian Judo contingent delivered a fantastic performance at the CWG 2026 in Glasgow, with four medals, including a silver medal, a bronze medal, and two history-making gold medals by Harsh Singh and Asmita Dey.
Harsh Singh won India's historic gold in the men's 60 kg judo event, defeating Australia's Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari (10-0) in a commanding final.
"I feel very special and incredibly happy to have won this gold medal. It is an amazing feeling, and I was overwhelmed with joy after winning the final. It took a little while for the achievement to truly sink in, and only then did I realise I had become a Commonwealth Games champion. While this medal is a proud moment, my ultimate dream is to win an Olympic medal. Before that, my immediate focus is on performing well at the Asian Games and taking another step towards that goal," Harsh Singh told ANI.
Judo women's 57kg silver medallist Yamini Mourya expressed pride in her Commonwealth Games medal and said India's historic first judo gold has inspired her to aim for the top podium in the future.
She acknowledged the rising level of competition, stressed the need to train harder, and said Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's message about self-belief, fearless competition and putting the nation first had motivated the team.
Mourya secured a silver medal in the women's 57kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after a closely contested final against England's Acelya Toprak ended in defeat on Friday.
"I am proud to have won a silver medal in judo. It is also a historic moment for Indian judo, as we won our first-ever Commonwealth Games gold in the sport. Seeing that achievement has motivated me even more, and next time I want to win a gold medal as well," Mourya told ANI.
"The competition is becoming tougher every day, so we know we have to train even harder. The Sports Minister told us that victory begins from within, we must believe in ourselves, compete without fear and always put the nation first. When you know the entire country is behind you, it gives you the confidence to perform and win for India," she added.
Judoka Unnati Sharma also expressed delight after winning the Commonwealth Games bronze medal, saying Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's encouragement and emphasis on fearless competition and putting the nation first inspired the team.
She also stressed that her ultimate goal is to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics and represent India on the biggest stage. Sharma claimed the bronze medal after producing a superb Ippon victory over South Africa's Skye Knoester in the bronze-medal contest.
"I am happy to have won the bronze medal after defeating South Africa's Skye Knoester. We met the Sports Minister today, and he welcomed us warmly with bouquets and prize money. His words were very encouraging and motivating. He reminded us to always put the nation first, to remember the millions of Indians who support us from back home, and to play without fear, knowing the entire country is behind us. Looking ahead, my biggest goal is to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics, and I will continue training hard to earn my place and represent India on that stage," Sharma told ANI.
India participated in 12 judo events in Glasgow and won four medals, two gold, one silver and one bronze, compared to three medals, with no gold, in 2022. The breakthrough was led by Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh, who created history by winning India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medals in judo.
Asmita became the first Indian woman judoka to win Commonwealth Games gold, while Harsh became the first Indian male judoka to achieve the feat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally, judo is getting the recognition it deserves in India! We focus so much on cricket that our other athletes often get overlooked. This CWG performance shows we have talent in every sport. Harsh and Asmita are true heroes. Now the government must invest more in judo infrastructure to sustain this momentum.
So proud of Asmita Dey for becoming the first Indian woman to win CWG gold in judo! And Yamini's silver – she showed real grit in that final. The Sports Minister's words about putting the nation first clearly resonated with the team. This is how we build a sports culture in India – through belief and hard work. 👏
This is fantastic news! But I hope the sports ministry doesn't just celebrate and forget. We need long-term support – better training facilities, foreign coaches, and more competitions for our judokas. Harsh's dream of an Olympic medal is achievable if we back him properly. Let's not let these champions down.
Judo is a sport that needs more grassroots development in India. The success at CWG 2026 didn't happen overnight – it's the result of years of dedication. Harsh's Waza-Ari win over the Australian was pure class. The Asian Games will be tougher, but with this confidence, I believe they can do it. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
What a moment for Indian sports! Unnati's Ippon victory for bronze was spectacular to watch. These athletes are proving that India can dominate in combat sports. I just wish the
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