Indian weightlifter Rishikanta Singh secured India’s first silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 after finishing second in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event on Sunday.
The 28-year-old delivered an impressive performance to earn India’s second medal of the Games. Earlier, para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won a bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight category.
Malaysia’s Bin Kasdan Mohamad Aniq claimed the gold medal, while Joshua Amunga Mboya of Kenya finished with the bronze.
Rishikanta Sets Commonwealth Games Snatch Record
Rishikanta dominated the snatch competition with three successful lifts.
He opened with 116kg, followed it with 119kg, and then successfully lifted 121kg on his final attempt.
The 121kg lift not only gave him the lead after the snatch section but also established a new Commonwealth Games snatch record while marking a personal best.
Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq also lifted 121kg, keeping the contest wide open heading into the clean and jerk.
Gold Slips Away in Clean and Jerk
Rishikanta began the clean and jerk with a successful 143kg lift.
However, he failed to lift 148kg on his second attempt. Meanwhile, Mohamad Aniq successfully lifted 149kg, moving ahead in the standings.
Needing 151kg on his final attempt to win gold, Rishikanta narrowly missed the lift.
He finished with a combined total of 264kg, earning the silver medal, while Mohamad Aniq secured gold with a total of 273kg.
Rising Star of Indian Weightlifting
Rishikanta began his weightlifting journey at the National Sports Academy in Khuman Lampak, Imphal.
His breakthrough came at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, where he won gold in the men’s 60kg category with a combined lift of 271kg. The performance also earned him direct qualification for the Commonwealth Games 2026.
He also competed at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships, finishing 11th against a strong international field.
Domestically, Rishikanta has consistently excelled. At the 2024 National Weightlifting Championships, he set the Indian national snatch record of 124kg in the men’s 61kg category.
His silver medal at the Commonwealth Games further strengthens India’s campaign and highlights his emergence as one of the country’s leading weightlifters.
