India’s Harsh Singh delivered a composed performance to win the men’s -60kg judo gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Friday, defeating Australia’s Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari (10-0) in the final. The triumph marked India’s second judo gold of the Games and only the second Commonwealth Games judo gold in the country’s history.
The 23-year-old’s victory came shortly after Asmita Dey became the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold by claiming the women’s -48kg title. Together, the two victories completed a landmark day for Indian judo and significantly boosted the nation’s medal tally.
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The gold-medal contest began with Katz taking the initiative, launching a series of aggressive attacks in search of an early lead. Harsh, however, remained patient and disciplined, defending confidently while waiting for an opportunity to counter. One tense exchange saw the Australian nearly secure a pin, but Harsh escaped expertly and reversed the position without either athlete scoring.
With the bout locked at 0-0 entering the final minute, Harsh produced the decisive moment. At the 3:19 mark, he executed a perfectly timed throw before transitioning into a controlled pin. The move earned him a Waza-Ari, which proved enough to seal the contest. Katz pressed hard in the closing seconds, but the Indian judoka stayed in control to secure a memorable victory.
Harsh’s journey to the top of the podium was equally impressive. He began his campaign with an Ippon win over Malawi’s Chikondi Kathewera in the round of 16 before defeating Vanuatu’s Alan Monthouel by Ippon in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, he overcame Australia’s Pedro Carlos Antun Neto by Waza-Ari to book his place in the gold-medal match.
Competing in his first Commonwealth Games, Harsh Singh capped off a flawless campaign with a historic gold, underlining his emergence as one of India’s brightest judo talents.
