Bhubaneswar, August 1 (newsalert24x7): Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha hailed 23-year-old judoka Asmita Dey after she etched her name in the history books by becoming India's first-ever Commonwealth Games judo gold medallist at the 2026 Games in Glasgow.
Congratulating the young champion, CM Dr. Saha emphasized that her monumental triumph would serve as a beacon of inspiration for generations of aspiring athletes across the nation.
"Asmita Dey, a daughter of Tripura, has once again brought glory to the state on the international stage. Her dedication, hard work, and self-confidence will continue to inspire the younger generation of the country," Dr. Saha stated.
The Golden Campaign in Glasgow
Asmita clinched the women's 48kg gold medal after defeating Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in a gripping Golden Score sudden-death final. Her journey to the top of the podium showcased remarkable tactical discipline and composure:
- Quarter-Finals: Defeated Scotland's Eva Ewing via ippon.
- Semi-Finals: Edged past home favorite Summer Shaw in a hard-fought contest.
- The Gold Medal Bout: Maintained her composure against Heidi Quach, sealing the historic gold with a decisive score in the extra period.
From Bicycle Repair Shop to the Commonwealth Podium
Born on March 22, 2003, in Belonia, South Tripura, Asmita's rise is a story of grit and perseverance.
- Humble Beginnings: She is the daughter of Arjun Kumar Dey, who runs a bicycle repair shop in Belonia.
- Early Switch: Initially an 800-meter runner, her potential was spotted by a local coach who guided her toward judo.
- Grassroots Training: Started her judo training under Bina Debnath at the Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre before moving to the Tripura Sports School under coach Manik Lal Deb.
- National Excellence: In 2018, she was inducted into the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Regional Centre in Bhopal under veteran coach Yashpal Solanki, later joining the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group.
A Rising International Career
Inspired by Indian judoka Avtar Singh and Japanese Olympic legend Uta Abe, Asmita has steadily built an impressive international track record:
- 2022: First judoka from Tripura to win an international medal at the Asian Cadet & Junior Judo Competition.
- 2023: Secured gold at the Junior Asia Cup and silver at the Asian Open in Kuwait.
- 2025: Won her maiden senior international title at the African Open in Casablanca, Morocco.
Tripura Sports Minister Tinku Roy also applauded the champion, calling her triumph a landmark milestone for Indian sports that will motivate countless athletes from the Northeast and beyond to dream big on the global stage.
For real-time medal tallies, athlete profiles, and live coverage of the Commonwealth Games 2026, keep refreshing newsalert24x7.
