Chanambam Rishikanta Singh Secures Silver Medal at 2026 Commonwealth Games

Chanambam Rishikanta Singh has made India proud by winning a silver medal in the men's 60kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His achievement marks India's first medal at the Games, following a bronze from para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar. Rishikanta expressed gratitude to the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the Sports Minister for their support. Despite a knee issue affecting his clean and jerk performance, he set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch. Looking ahead, he aims to secure medals at future competitions, including the Asian Games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 26, 2026, 23:39 IST

Rishikanta's Triumph in Glasgow

Glasgow [Scotland], July 26: Indian weightlifter Chanambam Rishikanta Singh expressed his joy after clinching the silver medal in the men's 60kg category during the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow on Sunday.

He extended his gratitude to the Indian Weightlifting Federation, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and all those who supported him, pledging to continue his hard work to secure more medals for India.

This silver medal was India's first at the current Games and the second overall, following para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar's bronze medal earlier.

In an interview, Rishikanta shared his happiness about the achievement, thanking the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the Sports Minister for their significant support, which he credited for his success.

"I am extremely happy. I want to thank the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the Sports Minister; their support has been crucial in helping us achieve this medal today. I am grateful to everyone involved," he stated.

Rishikanta achieved a total lift of 264kg (121kg in snatch and 143kg in clean and jerk), while Malaysia's Mohamad Aniq Kasdan took home the gold with a Commonwealth Games record of 273kg (121kg snatch + 152kg clean and jerk). Kenya's Joshua Mboya secured the bronze with a total of 260kg (115kg + 145kg), as reported by ESPN.

The Indian lifter started strong in the snatch, successfully lifting 116kg, then improving to 119kg. He capped off his snatch attempts by lifting 121kg, breaking the Commonwealth Games snatch record and achieving a personal best. Kasdan matched this effort shortly after, leaving both lifters tied after the snatch.

In the clean and jerk, Rishikanta opened with a successful lift of 143kg, temporarily taking the overall lead with a total of 264kg. However, Kasdan responded by lifting 145kg and then 149kg, moving ahead with a total of 270kg, putting pressure back on Rishikanta.

To reclaim the lead, Rishikanta needed to lift 151kg on his final attempt. Although he completed the clean, he couldn't lock out the jerk, ending his bid for gold. Kasdan finished strong, lifting 152kg in his last clean and jerk attempt, setting a Games record total of 273kg.

While he was pleased with his record-breaking snatch, Rishikanta expressed disappointment with his clean and jerk performance, attributing it to a knee issue. Looking forward, he is determined to improve and aims to secure a medal at the 2026 Asian Games.

"I am not fully satisfied because my clean and jerk did not go as well as I had trained for, although the snatch was successful and I set a record. I faced some challenges with the clean and jerk due to my knee. I am confident that I will bring home medals in future competitions, especially at the Asian Games. I will give it my all," Rishikanta concluded.