New Delhi – Harsh Singh has made history by becoming the first Indian male judoka to secure a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. He is now turning his attention to his next challenge.
Event Context
The current champion is setting his sights on training in Japan or Georgia as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya next month. His goal is to achieve gold after previously securing silver and bronze medals. “I was aiming for gold and focused on my preparation. With diligent practice and a positive mindset, I’m confident we can achieve it,” he stated.
Reflecting on his past success in Glasgow, Harsh mentioned, “After winning my semifinal match, my primary concern was ensuring I wouldn’t lose at that point. The semifinal was notably challenging, and I felt my ground game was superior that day. I rely on a judo technique known as Tomoe Nage, which is my favorite. My opponent’s style was similar, hence we had to adjust our strategy.”
He also shared advice from his senior, Nishant Bhai, regarding a technique called Kataguruma. “Once we establish a grip, the key is to pull the opponent down to execute the drop. During my entry, I focus on pulling to the side before executing the throw and driving the opponent to the mat using my shoulders,” he explained.
Match Outlook
Harsh expressed a strong desire to train in either Japan or Georgia, both of which he considers excellent training grounds for Indian judokas. He highlighted that, aside from Japan, Georgia is among the top nations in judo, and training in these countries could significantly enhance their preparation for future competitions. During a recent felicitation ceremony for judokas, he commented to PTI, “Training under Olympic-level coaches will help us achieve our ambitious goals.” Harsh acknowledged that Indian judokas currently lag behind the best in the world in terms of technical skills. He emphasized the importance of international training, particularly with elite Japanese coaches, to close this gap and compete effectively on higher platforms. Although he hasn’t reached out to any coaches yet, he pointed out that Japanese mentors bring invaluable experience and technique. “Indians have strong physical attributes, but we need to refine our techniques, particularly in footwork and gripping. Improving these skills will enhance our performance,” he noted. The Glasgow champion also mentioned that the competition level at the Commonwealth Games was considerably lower than what he expects at the Asian Games. “Securing a medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games is easier compared to the Asian Games or the Olympics,” he remarked. When asked about his confidence in winning the Commonwealth Games gold and being the first Indian male judoka to achieve this, Harsh affirmed that his training has always focused solely on the gold medal, with no compromise on his goal.
