Valluri Ajaya Babu Secures Silver in Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026

In a thrilling contest at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Valluri Ajaya Babu from India clinched the silver medal in the men's 79kg weightlifting event. Just one kilogram behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, Ajaya's performance was marked by a record-setting snatch lift. This achievement not only highlights his skill but also adds to the legacy of his family's weightlifting history. With India securing multiple medals in weightlifting, including silver and bronze in women's categories, the nation continues to shine on the international stage. Discover more about Ajaya's journey and India's success at the Games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 28, 2026, 04:58 IST

Ajaya's Remarkable Performance in Glasgow

Glasgow [Scotland], July 28: Valluri Ajaya Babu from India showcased an impressive performance, earning a silver medal in the men's 79kg weightlifting category during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He finished just one kilogram shy of Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who took home the gold in a nail-biting competition on Monday (local time).

The 22-year-old athlete hails from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh and achieved a total lift of 330kg, comprising 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk. Hidayat, however, set a Games record with a clean and jerk lift of 184kg, totaling 331kg to secure first place. Chris Murray from Scotland earned the bronze medal with a total of 325kg (148kg in snatch and 177kg in clean and jerk), as reported by ESPN.

Ajaya kicked off the event with a bang, establishing a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch, positioning himself well for a potential gold medal as he moved into the clean and jerk phase.

In a dramatic turn, Hidayat delivered an outstanding performance in the clean and jerk, lifting a record 184kg to narrowly surpass Ajaya by just one kilogram, clinching the title.

This silver medal is a significant achievement for Ajaya and his family, especially considering his father's bronze medal win in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Ajaya's accomplishment marks a proud moment for his family and the village of Kondavelagada, known for its rich weightlifting heritage, having produced 20 national and 13 international weightlifters.

Ajaya entered the Games in excellent form, having previously defeated Hidayat at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships earlier this year, lifting a total of 335kg compared to Hidayat's 333kg. Although the outcome was different in Glasgow, Ajaya demonstrated his consistency on the global stage.

India's weightlifting team had a successful day overall, with Gyaneshwari Yadav earning silver in the women's 53kg category and Bindyarani Devi taking bronze in the women's 58kg event.

Gyaneshwari, competing in her first Commonwealth Games after moving up from the 49kg category, achieved a personal best with a total of 199kg (88kg in snatch and 111kg in clean and jerk), successfully completing all six of her lifts.

Bindyarani secured her second consecutive Commonwealth Games medal, having previously won silver at Birmingham 2022, by finishing third in the women's 58kg competition.

With these performances, India has now accumulated six medals in weightlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, including 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).