Asmita Dey’s historic Commonwealth Games gold medal was more than just India’s first-ever top finish in judo. It was the fulfilment of a dream she once feared had ended with the death of her father seven months ago. The 23-year-old from a small village in Tripura scripted history by becoming the first Indian judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal after defeating Canada’s Heidi Quach in a dramatic women’s 48kg final.After the win, emotions took over as Asmita remembered the man who had always believed in her.“When my father passed away, I thought everything had finished because he was the one who supported me,” Asmita said, struggling to hold back tears after her historic triumph.Asmita conceded an early yuko and also received a penalty, allowing Quach to take control. But the Indian judoka fought back, levelled the contest and kept her composure in the Golden Score period, where she landed the decisive yuko to seal a famous victory.After winning the gold medal, Asmita said her father always encouraged her to dream beyond the limits of their small village.“I am from a very small village in Tripura. People there don’t dream this big. But Papa always supported me,” she said.Asmita recalled how her father stood by her.“Mere papa hamesha mujhe support karte the. Beech mein mujhe injury hui thi, tab papa mere liye Delhi aaye the. Dawai, ilaaj, sab kuch unhone hi sambhala tha. Mummy-papa dono bahut support karte the, lekin mummy ko zyada samay nahi milta tha. Phir achanak 15 December ko papa ki death ho gayi. Uske baad laga ki sab kuch khatam ho gaya. Mujhe laga ki main kuch nahi kar paungi,” she said.“Papa jaane se pehle keh gaye the ki tum apne sapne ko aage badhana. Tum SAI Bhopal chale jao. Wahan SAI Bhopal mein mujhe bahut support mila. Thank you so much sir, kyunki main usi support ki wajah se aage badhi,” Asmita said.
