Judo is governed by the International Judo Federation (IJF), which consists of over 200 member national federations across all continents. At the Olympics, the men’s discipline debuted in 1964, while the women’s discipline was added in 1992.
While Judo has been historically dominant in Japan and Europe, in recent years it has undergone massive geographical expansion. Nations across Central Asia (such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan), Pan-America, and Africa regularly produce world and Olympic champions.
The sport has also maintained a presence in the Paralympic Games since 1988.
Speaking about India, while cricket has dominated the country’s sporting landscape, combat sports such as boxing and wrestling have carved their own space, amongst which is judo.
What has given Judo its rise in India depends on several factors:
Major bodies like the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and state-level infrastructure are actively backing combat sports training centres.
High-performance facilities—such as SAI CRC Bhopal—have begun churning out competitive talent, highlighted by international achievements like young judokas securing medals at continental stages.
Major national tournaments such as the All India Police Judo Cluster Championship help bring together thousands of athletes from state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
With historical breakthroughs on the international stage— such as Sushila Devi’s qualification milestone and Commonwealth Games success — public awareness has grown.
With the 2026 Commonwealth Games going on right now in Glasgow, let’s take a look at India’s squad for Judo:
Women’s Team:
Asmita Dey: Women’s -48kg
Shraddha Kadubal Chopade: Women’s -52kg
Yamini Mourya: Women’s -57kg
Unnati Sharma: Women’s -63kg
Inunganbi Takhellambam: Women’s -70kg
Ishroop Narang: Women’s -78kg
* Birmingham 2022 medalist, Tulika Mann, was withdrawn due to anti-doping violations. She was originally registered in the women’s +78kg division.
Men’s Team:
Harsh Singh: Men’s -60kg
Rohit Basir Majgul: Men’s -66kg
Harsh Tokas: Men’s -81kg
Karanjit Singh Maan: Men’s -90kg
Avtar Singh: Men’s -100kg
Yash Ghanghas: Men’s +100kg
* Arun Kumar, who was originally named in the men’s -73kg division, was withdrawn due to anti-doping violations.
The Judo competition will take place from 31st July to 2nd August, 2026, at the SEC centre.
What are India’s prospects in Judo?
India maintains a realistic chance of winning 2 to 3 medals at this year’s Games.
During the 2022 Birmingham Games, India had its best-ever Commonwealth Games judo campaign, taking home 3 medals (2 silver, 1 bronze).
Asmita Dey (women’s -48kg) is a primary prospect in the Judo squad. She won gold at the Junior Asian Judo Championships and has gained extensive exposure on the IJF World Tour circuit.
The -48kg category looks manageable at the Games, making her a strong favourite.
Inunganbi Takhellambam (Women’s -70kg) & Ishroop Narang (Women’s -78kg) are two such athletes who have dominated the domestic circuit and have shown promise at the continental tournaments.
Tulika Mann’s absence in the +78kg removes a high-percentage medal from the tally. She was considered India’s single most dependable medal winner.
The remaining 12 athletes carry greater individual responsibility, but it also creates an opportunity for emerging stars like Asmita Dey and Inunganbi to establish themselves as stars.
