For Asmita Dey, a historic medal was never just about standing on a podium. It was about carrying forward a dream her father could no longer see come true.

In the latest episode of Reliance Foundation's Safar Champions Ka, Asmita Dey opens up about the journey that took her from contemplating giving up judo after her father’s passing to making history on the international stage, reflecting on the people who stood by her, the challenges she overcame and the dream that continues to drive her forward.

The Indian judoka had considered walking away from the sport after her father’s death. Grief had made training difficult, and she admits that she had told her mother that she did not want to continue with judo. But her mother reminded her of the dream her father had for her to become a top-level player and eventually win an Olympic medal.

Then came a call from her coach, Yashpal Solanki, on the 13th day after her father’s death.

“He called me on the 13th day and said, ‘Come, you have to train. We have to win a medal,’” Asmita recalled.

It was not an easy return. She describes becoming physically weaker and struggling to train properly, but with her trials approaching, she knew she had to find a way forward.

“I kept my mind very strong. There were not many days left for the trials, and I had to do it. I motivated myself and kept going,” she said.

That determination soon translated into results. Asmita won her trial and then claimed her first gold medal at the National Games. For her, however, the achievement carried a deeply personal significance.

“If my father were here, he would probably be very, very happy,” she said, remembering how proud he had been when she previously won gold at the Senior Nationals.

Her journey had also been shaped by the coaches who guided her from the early stages of her career. In Tripura, Manik Lal Deb and Pranab Sir helped her develop as a judoka and contributed to her success at the national level. After moving to Bhopal, she found another important mentor in coach Solanki, who pushed her through training designed around international standards.

But it was only after her latest triumph that Asmita began to understand just how significant it had been.

“I didn’t know at first that so much would happen, or that I had created history,” she said.

She realised it while scrolling through social media and seeing her name appear across reels, videos and news stories. The scale of the moment became even clearer when she saw the Indian flag raised and heard the national anthem.

“I was feeling very proud. I felt that all the hard work I had put in had finally been completed,” she said.

Yet Asmita does not view the achievement as an endpoint.

“This is just the beginning. I still have a lot more to do,” she said.

Her ambitions now extend to the Asian Games, where she hopes to add another medal to her growing list of achievements. Alongside her sporting ambitions, she also wants her journey to encourage more girls to take up sport.

“Every girl should play. Every girl should participate in sports. Just because she is a girl doesn’t mean she shouldn’t play sports,” Asmita said.

Reliance Foundation’s support has also become an important part of her journey, particularly in helping ease the logistical challenges of travel. As she prepares for another major international challenge, Asmita remains grateful to those who have stood behind her.
For now, she carries her father’s dream with her onto every mat, into every competition and towards the next medal she hopes to win.