New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- Asmita Dey never planned to become a judoka. The sport found her almost by chance. Today the 23-year-old from Tripura stands as the first Indian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in judo after her historic victory at Glasgow 2026.

Born on 22 March 2003 in Belonia, Tripura, Asmita grew up in a simple home with three siblings. Her father, Arjun Kumar Dey, earned a living repairing bicycles. Sport entered her life through running. She competed in the 800 metres and even reached district-level trials. A coach's casual introduction to judo changed everything. What began as a trial session slowly became her main path.

Early training came under coach Bina Debnath at Belonia Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre. Later she moved ...