Harjinder Kaur Shines with Silver at Commonwealth Games 2026

Celebrating Harjinder Kaur's Silver Medal Triumph

Patiala (Punjab) [India], July 29: The family of Harjinder Kaur is overjoyed after she secured a silver medal in the women's 69kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Her father, Sahib Singh, mother, Kuldeep Kaur, and brother, Pritpal Singh, have all praised her remarkable journey.

Harjinder delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a personal best of 227kg, which included lifts of 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk. The gold medal was claimed by Canada's Charlotte Simoneau, who lifted a total of 235kg (108kg in snatch and 127kg in clean and jerk).

In an interview, Sahib Singh expressed that her success brought them more joy than a bountiful harvest. He reminisced about her years of hard work and dedication away from home.

"We are incredibly happy. This joy surpasses even that of a good harvest. She has spent a lot of time in training camps and has made us proud. Coming from humble beginnings to achieve this is remarkable," he stated.

He added, "When she began with Kabaddi and later transitioned to weightlifting, our circumstances were tough. We struggled to make ends meet until my son started working, which gradually improved our situation. Harjinder's victories have been a blessing from God."

Kuldeep Kaur, Harjinder's mother, also shared her happiness after witnessing her daughter's success. She mentioned that the entire family was thrilled, and congratulations poured in from relatives and the village.

"Watching her win on TV filled me with joy. When she called to share her victory, we were ecstatic. I believe God is with her, and everyone is congratulating us—relatives and the entire village," she said.

Pritpal Singh, her brother, expressed the family's excitement as well. "We watched her compete live last night. When we learned she won silver, she called us shortly after to confirm. The journey has been challenging, requiring immense dedication. She had to miss family events and was away for training camps for a year. After all her hard work, she earned this medal. I encourage other parents to support their children in their pursuits; belief leads to success," he remarked.

"Our village is buzzing with happiness. Many prominent figures have tweeted their congratulations. This is a proud moment for our community, country, and village," he added.

Harjinder made a remarkable start in the competition, breaking the Commonwealth Games record twice in the snatch category. She lifted 96kg, then raised the record to 99kg, and finally achieved a stunning 101kg in her last attempt.

Her record-setting performance kept her in contention for gold as she entered the clean and jerk phase. She began with a solid lift of 120kg, briefly taking the lead before successfully lifting 126kg, culminating in her career-best total and securing the silver medal.

Although Simoneau regained the lead with a final lift to clinch the title, Harjinder's performance underscored India's strength in weightlifting at the Glasgow Games.

This silver medal marks Harjinder's second consecutive podium finish at the Commonwealth Games, having previously won bronze at the Birmingham 2022 Games, and it represents an improvement in the medal's color.

At 28 years old and hailing from Nabha, Punjab, Harjinder has established herself as one of India's top weightlifters, further enhancing India's medal tally in this strong discipline at the Games.