Raja Muthupandi Shines with Silver in 65kg Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games
Raja Muthupandi's Remarkable Comeback
In a stunning display of resilience, Raja Muthupandi from India secured a silver medal in the men's 65kg weightlifting category during the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow on Sunday. This achievement marked India's third medal of the day, showcasing the strength of the Indian weightlifting team.
As reported by ESPN, the 26-year-old athlete achieved a total lift of 286kg, which included 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk, earning him a place on the podium.
The gold medal was claimed by Malaysia's Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed, who set a Commonwealth Games record with a total of 299kg, marking his third consecutive title after victories in Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
Raja began his competition with a strong performance, successfully lifting 126kg in the snatch on his second attempt. He followed this with a successful clean and jerk lift of 160kg, also on his second try, culminating in a total of 286kg and securing India's latest medal in Glasgow.
This silver medal signifies a remarkable comeback for Raja, whose career faced significant challenges due to a severe elbow ligament injury in 2019. His recovery was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a transition to a higher weight category coincided with the rise of Jeremy Lalrinnunga, which sidelined Raja from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
After the introduction of the 65kg category, Raja made his way back into the national team, demonstrating his potential with a ninth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships, where he achieved a personal best of 299kg.
Raja's silver medal contributed to India's impressive performance in weightlifting on that day. Earlier, Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu won her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold in the women's 48kg category, while Chanambam Rishikanta Singh secured silver in the men's 60kg event.
With Raja's achievement, India celebrated its third medal of the day, all from weightlifting, highlighting the sport's vital role in the country's Commonwealth Games efforts.
In contrast, India's boxing team faced a setback as Aditya Pratap Yadav exited the men's competition after losing his pre-quarterfinal match to Uganda's Nuhu Batte by a close 3-2 split decision, marking the first boxing defeat for India at Glasgow 2026.