Glasgow: A gold medal, a heartfelt tribute and a story of sacrifice came together in one unforgettable moment as Indian judoka Asmita Dey dedicated her Commonwealth Games 2026 triumph to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying the support she received through her job in the UP Police helped make the achievement possible.

Moments after defeating Canada's Heidi Quach 2-1 in the women's 48kg final on Thursday, an emotional Asmita said the medal belonged to everyone who stood by her journey, while making a special mention of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

'I am so happy with the gold. This is for all who supported me. I also want to thank Yogi ji for giving me the job in UP Police,' she told IANS after the final.

The Tripura-born judoka, who is now settled in Varanasi, said financial stability from her employment with the Uttar Pradesh Police enabled her to continue chasing international success while also supporting her family.

'My mindset today was that I am the best in the 48kg category and I have to win gold for my country, myself, my coach, my parents, my relatives and everyone who believed in me. I work in the Uttar Pradesh Police, and I want to thank Yogi Adityanath because he gave me a job there. That support helped my family and allowed me to come here and win this gold medal,' she said.

The title clash tested Asmita's composure, but the Indian remained calm under pressure, mixing disciplined defence with timely attacks to edge past the experienced Canadian and secure the biggest medal of her career.

Her victory, however, was shaped long before she stepped onto the mat.

Asmita revealed she had to avoid eating on the morning of the final because of the mandatory random weigh-in, where athletes had to remain below 50kg.

'When I woke up, I was 50kg 300g, so I couldn't eat much. I expected my name to come up for the random weigh-in. After I completed it, I finally ate and drank something, and then about an hour later I had my fight,' she said.

The disciplined approach paid off as Asmita remained unbeaten through the competition, progressing confidently through the earlier rounds before producing her strongest performance in the gold-medal contest.

Her victory further strengthened India's medal tally in Glasgow and underlined the country's growing stature in judo at the Commonwealth Games.

It also added Asmita Dey's name to India's list of Commonwealth champions while offering fresh inspiration for young judokas dreaming of international success.