Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Agartala: Asmita Dey etched her name into history, becoming the first Indian judoka to claim a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. The 23-year-old secured the 48 kg title in Glasgow after a grueling Golden Score victory over Canada’s Heidi Quach. It was a gritty win. She remained composed, threw hard, and made history.
Born March 22, 2003, in Belonia, Tripura, Dey grew up in a modest home where her father, Arjun Kumar Dey, ran a bicycle repair shop. She initially chased an 800m track career before finding her edge in judo under coach Bina Debnath at the Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre. She later moved to the Tripura Sports School under Manik Lal Deb, eventually earning a spot at the Sports Authority of India center in Bhopal in 2018.
The path to Glasgow was marked by immense personal grief. Dey’s father died in December 2025, a loss that nearly derailed her career. "My father left us in December 2025. He supported me a lot. After my father passed away, I felt like everything was finished. But two months later, there were trials for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, in which I came first at the nationals," she said. She now serves as a sub-inspector with the Uttar Pradesh Police based in Ghaziabad.
Dey’s road to the podium saw her flatten Scotland’s Eva Ewing by ippon in the quarter-finals. She then edged past Summer Shaw in the semi-finals. Her resume includes a 2022 Asian Cadet and Junior medal, a 2023 Junior Asia Cup gold, and a senior title at the 2025 Casablanca African Open. She is a product of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha hailed the victory, noting the state's pride. Sports Minister Tinku Roy echoed the sentiment. Her mother, Munna, and brother, Debabrata, confirmed the family’s joy following the result. India’s medal count now sits at 18, including four golds from Dey, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, and para-athletes Sharmila Dhankar and Dilip Gavit. The country also holds nine silver and five bronze medals.
Comments