Indian lifter Ajaya Babu claims Commonwealth Games silver medal

Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu secured a hard-fought silver medal in the men's 79kg division at the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He finished just one kilogram behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat during a fiercely competitive event on Monday. Ajaya lifted a total of 330kg, combining 149kg in the snatch with 181kg in the clean and jerk. His Malaysian rival grabbed the top spot with a 331kg total.

Ajaya set a new Commonwealth Games record early on with his 149kg snatch. This strong start put him in excellent position for first place. However, Hidayat fought back with an incredible 184kg clean and jerk. This late surge allowed the Malaysian to edge past the Indian athlete. Historically, Indian weightlifters have dominated the Commonwealth stage since the 1990 Auckland Games, often viewing these regional championships as a crucial stepping stone toward Olympic readiness. Ajaya entered this contest full of confidence, especially after beating Hidayat earlier this year.

Family legacy and national pride

Winning silver marks a special moment for the 22-year-old athlete from Kondavelagada, Andhra Pradesh. He successfully upgraded his family's sporting history, as his father previously won a weightlifting bronze at the 2010 Games. His village is famous for breeding athletic talent, producing dozens of national and international lifters over the years.

Other Indian athletes also enjoyed success on the same day. Gyaneshwari Yadav captured silver in the women's 53kg category by lifting a personal best of 199kg. Meanwhile, Bindyarani Devi claimed her second consecutive Games medal, taking bronze in the women's 58kg event. India now holds six weightlifting medals from Glasgow, keeping the nation's strong sporting tradition alive.

With Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI