The road to sporting success is rarely easy. For some athletes, the biggest battles begin long before they step onto the mat. Judoka Harsh Singh's journey is one such story. Before making history at the Commonwealth Games by becoming the first Indian male judoka to win a gold medal in the men's 60kg category, the 23-year-old from Dwarka, Delhi, had seen his family go through some of its toughest days. There were times when the family struggled to arrange even one proper meal. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his father, an electrician, was left without a steady source of income. Harsh watched his family struggle, but refused to let the circumstances break him. He continued to train, holding on to one dream - to make a name for himself in judo and build a better life for his family.
A young boy with a big dream
Harsh's introduction to judo came when his family could not afford many luxuries. His father travelled from one house to another, repairing electrical switches, plugs and appliances. He earned around Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 a day, which was the family's main source of income. For Harsh, pursuing sport brought additional expenses. There were training costs, competitions, travel and the need to maintain a proper diet. Every tournament required money, even as his family struggled to manage their daily needs. Still, Harsh kept training.
The toughest years
The COVID-19 pandemic made life even harder. With the country under lockdown, Harsh's father could no longer travel from house to house for electrical work. The income stopped and the family's savings began to disappear. The situation became so difficult that the family sometimes struggled to arrange meals. They eventually had to borrow money to keep the household running. Even during those difficult days, Harsh refused to quit judo. He continued to train and carried his family's hopes every time he stepped onto the mat.
2024 changes everything
After years of struggle, Harsh's fortunes began to change in 2024. He won gold at the National Championships, giving his career a major boost. The success also opened a new door. Harsh earned a job with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. After spending around eight to nine months with the ITBP, he got an opportunity to join the Indian Army and moved across as a Havaldar. For the first time, his family had greater financial security, while Harsh could focus more closely on judo.
The Army becomes a pillar of support
The Indian Army provided Harsh with the facilities and support needed to train at the highest level. His diet, supplements and other training requirements were taken care of, allowing him to concentrate on his sporting ambitions without the financial worries that had followed him for years.
The next step was to turn that opportunity into success on the international stage.
Glasgow: The moment everything changed
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Harsh produced a memorable performance to win gold in the men's 60kg category. It was his first major international medal — and a historic one. Harsh became the first-ever Indian male judoka to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal. Years of training, sacrifice and financial hardship had finally led to the biggest achievement of his young career. Five years ago, Harsh was fighting to keep his sporting dream alive while his family battled financial difficulties. Today, he is a Commonwealth Games champion, an Indian Army Havaldar and a history-maker in Indian judo.
