India’s Asmita Dey etched her name in the history books at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing the nation’s first-ever gold medal in judo. Despite her landmark performance in the women’s 48kg category, a debate has emerged regarding her eligibility for Uttar Pradesh’s Rs 1.5 crore state sports reward.
Although Dey hails originally from Tripura, she has represented Uttar Pradesh in national and international sporting events and has served as a sub-inspector with the UP Police since 2023.
Historic Victory in Glasgow
Dey’s path to the gold medal involved a hard-fought comeback against Canada’s Heidi Quach. Conceding an early yuko and penalty, she recalibrated her attack during the four-minute regulation contest to level the score at 1-1.
With neither competitor securing a decisive point during regular time, the bout moved into a high-stakes Golden Score period. Demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure, Dey executed a decisive attack to earn another yuko, securing sudden-death overtime victory and the top spot on the podium.
Understanding the Uttar Pradesh Sports Reward Criteria
Following her historic victory, questions arose concerning Dey’s qualification for the financial reward under Uttar Pradesh’s state athlete policy. Under a state government order issued in August 2024, an athlete must satisfy specific conditions to receive state-level monetary awards:
- Domicile Status: The athlete must be a bonafide domicile of Uttar Pradesh.
- Educational Enrollment: The athlete must have been enrolled in a recognized UP college or university for a minimum of two years.
- State Representation: The athlete must represent Uttar Pradesh in international competitions.
Evaluating Dey’s eligibility presents a complex case. While she represents Uttar Pradesh professionally and serves within the state’s police force, her roots in Tripura create ambiguity regarding the domicile requirement.
Official Response and List Finalization
Addressing the review process, Uttar Pradesh Sports Director RP Singh stated that sports authorities are currently finalizing the complete list of medalists and participants from the Glasgow Games.
If cleared by state officials, Dey stands to receive the Rs 1.5 crore prize intended for CWG gold medalists, recognizing her contribution to Indian sports.
