India’s fast‑rising weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu delivered a stunning performance to win the silver medal in the men’s 79 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026, continuing the country’s strong run in the sport.
The 21‑year‑old from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, lifted a combined 330 kg (149 kg snatch + 181 kg clean and jerk) to finish just 1 kg behind Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who took gold with 331 kg (147 + 184). England’s Chris Murray won bronze with 325 kg.
Ajaya Babu set a Games record in snatch at 149 kg, recovering brilliantly after a failed second attempt. He entered the clean‑and‑jerk section with confidence, matching Hidayat’s 181 kg lift before the Malaysian edged ahead with 184 kg in his final attempt.
This marks India’s sixth weightlifting medal at CWG 2026. Ajaya Babu, who previously won gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad with a personal‑best 335 kg, has emerged as one of the nation’s most promising lifters.
His journey from junior champion in Fiji (2024) to world‑level competitor in Norway (2025) reflects India’s growing depth in weightlifting. The silver in Glasgow cements his status as a future star of the sport.
