India secures double judo gold at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
India achieved a significant milestone in judo at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing two gold medals on Friday. Asmita Dey and Harsh Singh each earned gold in their respective categories, marking historic firsts for the nation in judo at the Games.
Asmita Dey’s Historic Victory
Asmita Dey made history by becoming the first Indian judoka to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She triumphed over Canada‘s Heidi Quach in the women’s 48kg final. The match was decided by yuko with a score of 2-1 after a golden score contest.
The 23-year-old from Tripura faced early pressure in the final. She conceded a yuko and received a penalty, allowing Quach to take an initial lead. However, Asmita adopted a more aggressive approach, levelling the contest at 1-1 shortly after the halfway point of the four-minute bout.
Despite numerous exchanges, neither judoka could secure a winning score during regulation time, leading the match into a Golden Score period. In this sudden-death phase, the first scoring move determines the outcome. Asmita maintained her composure and delivered a decisive attack, earning another yuko to clinch the gold medal for India.
Harsh Singh Claims Men’s Gold
The celebrations for India continued as Harsh Singh secured the men’s 60kg gold medal. He defeated Australia‘s Joshua Katz by waza-ari with a score of 10-0 in the final. This victory marked India‘s second judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and Harsh became the first male judoka from the country to win this title.
The 23-year-old, participating in his first Commonwealth Games, achieved the most significant title of his career. He delivered a composed and tactically sound performance against the Australian Olympian, who was widely considered the favourite for the gold medal. Katz began the match aggressively, but Harsh defended effectively, preventing his opponent from gaining an early advantage.
Harsh consistently sought opportunities throughout the contest. At one point, Katz nearly pinned him, but the Indian judoka escaped and attempted a counter-pin. Neither effort resulted in points. With less than a minute remaining and no scores on the board, Harsh executed the winning move at the 3:19 mark, performing a throw and pin that earned him a waza-ari, which was sufficient to secure the victory.
A waza-ari is the second-highest score in judo, providing a significant advantage. It is awarded for a throw that lacks one element required for an ippon, or for a ground hold lasting between 10 and 19 seconds. Two waza-aris are equivalent to one ippon, which immediately ends the match. Harsh remained unfazed by his opponent’s experience, maintaining his composure throughout the contest and refusing to be overwhelmed by the occasion. His decisive waza-ari ultimately determined the outcome for the Australian and delivered India its second judo gold of the day.
India’s Medal Tally at the Games
Harsh Singh dedicated his gold medal to his mother, stating his happiness in winning for the country and acknowledging the preparation involved. He also expressed his intention to prepare for the Asian Games if qualified, aiming to perform his best.
Harsh‘s win contributed to India‘s overall medal count of 19 at the Glasgow Games. This tally includes five gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals. The Indian gold medallists include Mirabai Chanu in women’s 48kg weightlifting, Sharmila Dhankar in women’s shot put F57, Dilip Gavit in men’s 100m T47, Asmita Dey in women’s 48kg judo, and Harsh Singh in men’s 60kg judo.
Silver medals were secured by Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Gyaneshwari Yadav, Sarvesh Kushare, Valluri Ajaya Babu, Harjinder Kaur, Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar, Mohammed Basil, and Lovepreet Singh. Bronze medals were awarded to Jhandu Kumar, Bindyarani Devi, Shilpa K Shyla, and Seema Kaliramna.
The double gold in judo on Friday marked a significant day for India at the Commonwealth Games.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
