Who is Harsh Singh? Meet the first Indian male judoka to win Commonwealth Games gold

Harsh Singh etched his name in Indian sporting history by becoming the country's first-ever male judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. The 23-year-old achieved the feat after defeating Australia's Joshua Katz in the men's 60kg final in Glasgow.

Competing in his maiden Commonwealth Games, Harsh produced a composed and tactically disciplined display to upset the experienced Australian Olympian, who entered the contest as one of the favourites for the title.

Rising star in Indian judo

Harsh is one of India's most promising judokas in the men's 60kg category. A regular on the International Judo Federation (IJF) circuit, he has represented India at several Grand Slam and Grand Prix events, gaining valuable experience against some of the world's top-ranked judokas.

His consistent performances on the international stage earned him a place in India's squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where he made an immediate impact by scripting history with the gold medal on his debut.

A composed performance under pressure

The final remained evenly balanced for much of the four-minute bout, with neither judoka able to establish a clear advantage. With just 41 seconds left on the clock, Harsh seized his opportunity, executing a decisive Waza-ari—the second-highest scoring technique in judo—to move ahead.

He then defended resolutely for the remainder of the contest to secure the biggest title of his career.

Defeating an accomplished Olympian

Harsh's victory was all the more significant given the pedigree of his opponent. Joshua Katz is a multiple-time Oceania champion and Australian national champion who has represented Australia at the Olympics and won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Katz also comes from a renowned judo family, with both his parents being former judokas and his father having served as Australia's national judo coach at previous Olympic Games.

Major achievements

• Gold medal – Men's 60kg, 2026 Commonwealth Games
• Represented India at IJF Grand Slam events
• Represented India at IJF Grand Prix events
• Made his Commonwealth Games debut at Glasgow 2026, where he won gold

A landmark day for Indian judo

Harsh's triumph came on a historic day for Indian judo. Earlier, Asmita Dey became the first Indian to win Commonwealth Games gold in the women's 48kg category. Together, the two judokas delivered India's first-ever double gold in judo at the Commonwealth Games, marking a watershed moment for the sport in the country.