India’s Asmita Dey wins Gold in Judo at Glasgow 2026: What is Judo? Know rules & more

Judo has quietly become one of the most talked-about stories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. India made history on July 31, claiming three medals on a single day, including the country’s first-ever CWG gold in the sport — a breakthrough moment for a discipline most Indian fans still barely understand.

India’s Historic Day

Asmita Dey became India’s first-ever CWG gold medallist in judo, defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final. Harsh Singh followed with a second gold in the men’s 60kg category, beating Australia’s Joshua Katz, while Yamini Mourya added a hard-fought silver in the women’s 57kg event.

What Exactly Is Judo?

Created in 1882 by Japanese educator Kano Jigoro, judo literally translates to “the gentle way,” though the sport is anything but gentle in practice. Punching, kicking and striking are strictly forbidden; instead, judokas rely on technique, leverage and balance to throw, pin or submit opponents using chokeholds and joint locks.

How Scoring Works

A Sport Steeped in Tradition

Referee commands remain entirely in Japanese, including Hajime (begin), Matte (stop), and Rei (bow), reflecting judo’s deep cultural roots. The sport made its Commonwealth Games debut as a demonstration event at Edinburgh 1986 before becoming a mandatory discipline from Birmingham 2022 onward.

Why It Matters

With India already producing medal-winning judokas at just the second edition of mandatory judo competition, the sport’s future on the Indian sporting landscape looks brighter than ever. Full event schedules are available on the official Commonwealth Games Federation website.

For more Commonwealth Games 2026 coverage, check out our Sports section on TechnoSports.