Rishikanta Singh Chanambam Sets New Record in Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026

Historic Performance in Men's 60kg Weightlifting

On Sunday, Rishikanta Singh Chanambam from India achieved a remarkable feat in the men's 60kg weightlifting category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. He lifted 121kg in the snatch, establishing a new record for the Games. This impressive performance was matched by Malaysia's Mohamad Aniq Kasdan, resulting in both athletes sharing the top position after the snatch event, as reported by ESPN.

Outstanding Snatch Lift

Rishikanta entered the competition as a strong contender, having secured gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in Ahmedabad. He kicked off his event with a successful lift of 116kg, followed by a smooth 119kg lift, placing him at the forefront. Aiming to surpass the previous Commonwealth Games snatch record of 120kg, he attempted 121kg on his final lift. Demonstrating exceptional focus, Rishikanta completed the lift flawlessly, setting a new Games record and achieving a personal best.

Rivalry with Malaysian Competitor

However, the lead was short-lived as Mohamad Aniq Kasdan, who holds the Commonwealth record for total weight lifted, also managed to lift 121kg shortly after. This resulted in both competitors finishing the snatch phase tied at 121kg. Kenya's Joshua Mboya secured third place with a personal best of 115kg, while Sri Lanka's Supun Dilhara Somathilaka followed in fourth with a lift of 109kg.

Clean and Jerk Phase to Determine Champion

As the competition moved to the clean and jerk phase, Rishikanta announced his opening attempt at 145kg, while Kasdan chose to start with 150kg. With both athletes tied after the snatch, the battle for the Commonwealth Games gold medal was set to be thrilling, as the combined totals from both lifts would ultimately decide the medal placements.