Gyaneshwari Yadav Shines with Silver at Commonwealth Games 2026

Gyaneshwari Yadav's Remarkable Performance

In Glasgow, Scotland, on July 27, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended their congratulations to Indian weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav after she secured a silver medal in the women's 53kg category during her debut at the Commonwealth Games.

With this achievement, Gyaneshwari contributed to India's medal tally, which now stands at five, including one gold, three silvers, and one bronze, showcasing the nation's strong performance at the Games.

Rajnath Singh took to social media to commend Gyaneshwari for her outstanding performance, noting her successful completion of all six lifts and a personal best. He praised her preparation, composure, and resilience, wishing her continued success in the future.

Congratulations to Gyaneshwari Yadav on winning the Silver Medal in the Weightlifting event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.

Setting a new personal best, with all six lifts completed successfully, reflects her exceptional preparation, composure and resilience. Wishing her… pic.twitter.com/SFR9W3S1Jp

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) July 27, 2026

Amit Shah also expressed his admiration for Gyaneshwari, calling her silver medal a well-deserved recognition of her talent and hard work.

He stated, "India bags another medal in weightlifting. Kudos to Gyaneshwari Yadav for winning the Silver medal in weightlifting in the Women’s 53 kg category at the #2026CommonwealthGames. It is the triumph that your talent, dedication, and commitment deserved. May victory always be yours."

India bags another medal in weightlifting.

Kudos to Gyaneshwari Yadav for winning the Silver medalin weightlifting in the Women’s 53 kg category at the #2026CommonwealthGames. It is the triumph that your talent, dedication, and commitment deserved. May victory always be yours. pic.twitter.com/bUP9Nv6xpM

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 27, 2026

The 23-year-old athlete from Chhattisgarh demonstrated exceptional determination and composure throughout the competition, setting multiple Games records in a fierce contest for the top position, as reported by ESPN.

Gyaneshwari began her journey in the snatch with an impressive lift of 82kg, followed by a successful 85kg on her second attempt. She then achieved a remarkable 88kg lift, breaking the Commonwealth Games record in her category and putting pressure on her competitor.

Nigerian lifter Onome Omolola Didih responded with a record-breaking 93kg snatch, taking the lead into the clean and jerk segment. The battle for gold continued as both athletes showcased their strength and technique.

Gyaneshwari kicked off the clean and jerk round with a powerful 103kg lift, bringing her total to 191kg and setting another Games record. She followed this with a 107kg lift, further improving her mark and closing the gap to Didih.

With the gold medal within reach, Gyaneshwari attempted a final lift of 111kg, successfully completing it and finishing with a total of 199kg, which earned her another Games and Commonwealth record. However, Didih's stunning 113kg lift secured the gold medal for Nigeria with a total of 206kg.

Although she missed out on the top position, Gyaneshwari's silver medal represents a significant achievement in her career. Previously competing in the 49kg category, she moved up to 53kg, recognizing the challenge of facing India's Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu in the lower weight class.