Judoka Asmita Dey shares how Varanasi became an integral part of her journey to the CWG win! 🥇

Asmita Dey reflects on her deep spiritual and athletic connection to Varanasi, describing it as an integral part of her journey toward winning gold at the Commonwealth Games. She highlights the quality of the local stadium, noting that its well-built facilities allowed her to undergo a rigorous ten-one-day training camp there specifically because she frequently visited the Kashi Vishwanath temple. Her devotion to the deity is so strong that she expressed a genuine desire to settle in Varanasi after completing her career, viewing the city not just as a place for physical preparation but as a spiritual home where she could continue her practice alongside her faith. Her athletic path was significantly shaped by early success within national youth programs and specific regional competitions that bridged spirituality with sport. Dey recalls participating in the Khelo India scheme, which provided crucial support after she secured a silver medal at the inaugural event in 2018; this achievement earned her recognition during the opening ceremony where she saw you present awards to athletes like herself. Furthermore, she mentions visiting Ujjain for training sessions dedicated to Mahakal and credits Sai Baba with providing substantial emotional and spiritual backing that helped sustain her through the challenges of elite competition leading up to her major victories. The narrative concludes by emphasizing how these elements converged to propel Asmita Dey from a young athlete in Bhopal to an international champion on the global stage. The video illustrates that for her, success was never solely about physical prowess but was deeply intertwined with visits to holy sites like Kashi Vishwanath and Ujjain, creating a unique rhythm of training and devotion. Ultimately, Asmita's story serves as an inspiring example of how faith can fuel athletic ambition, transforming the spiritual energy drawn from Varanasi into the determination required to stand atop the podium at the Commonwealth Games with India's colors flying high.