Valluri Ajaya Babu Reflects on Silver Medal Win at Commonwealth Games 2026

Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu expressed mixed emotions after winning a silver medal in the men's 79kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Despite narrowly missing gold, he is determined to learn from his experience and improve in future competitions. Ajaya's performance was commendable, setting a record in the snatch lift. This achievement continues his family's legacy in weightlifting, as his father previously won a bronze medal. India's weightlifting team had a successful day, adding to their medal tally at the Games. Read on to discover more about Ajaya's journey and India's performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 06:23 IST

Mixed Emotions for Valluri Ajaya Babu

Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu expressed a blend of joy and disappointment after securing a silver medal in the men's 79kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026. He narrowly missed the gold and vowed to learn from his experience to improve in future competitions.

In an interview following his performance in Glasgow, Ajaya shared, "It's a mix of happiness and sadness since I fell short of the gold. I believe a mistake cost me the top spot today. I will work diligently to avoid repeating this error in future events. The journey to this achievement has been incredibly challenging, and I have dedicated significant effort over the past two years. While I am pleased to have earned silver, there is a hint of sadness about missing out on gold. I dedicate this medal to my coaches, my father, and the entire nation of India."

Close Call for Gold

The 22-year-old from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh showcased an impressive performance, finishing with a total lift of 330kg (149kg in snatch and 181kg in clean and jerk). He was just one kilogram behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who took home the gold with a total of 331kg, setting a Games record with a clean and jerk lift of 184kg. Scotland's Chris Murray earned the bronze medal with a total of 325kg (148kg in snatch and 177kg in clean and jerk).

Ajaya kicked off his competition with a remarkable Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch, positioning himself as a contender for gold. However, Hidayat's exceptional performance in the clean and jerk allowed him to surpass Ajaya by a narrow margin.

A Legacy of Achievement

This silver medal marks another significant achievement for Ajaya's family, as his father previously won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Ajaya's accomplishment in Glasgow surpasses his father's feat.

Continuing the proud sporting legacy of Kondavelagada village, which has produced 20 national and 13 international weightlifters, Ajaya entered the Games with strong momentum after defeating Hidayat at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships earlier this year, lifting a total of 335kg compared to Hidayat's 333kg. Although the outcome was reversed in Glasgow, Ajaya proved he can compete at the highest level.

India's Weightlifting Success

India had a remarkable day in weightlifting, with Gyaneshwari Yadav earning silver in the women's 53kg category and Bindyarani Devi securing bronze in the women's 58kg event. Overall, India has achieved six medals in weightlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, comprising one gold, four silver, and one bronze.

The medal tally for India includes: Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women's shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men's high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).