Raja Muthupandi Wins Silver at Commonwealth Games 2026, Dedicates Medal to Family and Coach

Raja Muthupandi's Silver Medal Achievement

Glasgow [Scotland], July 27: Indian weightlifter Raja Muthupandi has proudly dedicated his silver medal from the Commonwealth Games 2026 to his parents and coach, Vijay Sharma. Despite his achievement, Raja expressed his disappointment at not securing the gold in the men’s 65kg category.

“I feel a sense of disappointment because my coach believed in my potential to win gold. Unfortunately, I didn’t deliver the performance expected. This medal is for my parents and coach, Vijay Sharma. I will take the lessons from this experience and focus on my training. I plan to follow my coach’s guidance closely and work diligently in the future,” Raja stated after the competition.

The 26-year-old athlete achieved a total lift of 286kg, earning India its third medal of the day and showcasing the nation’s strength in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games.

Raja's best lift was 126kg in the snatch during his second attempt, followed by a successful clean and jerk lift of 160kg, also on his second try, which secured him the silver medal.

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.

This silver medal signifies a remarkable comeback for Raja, who faced a serious elbow ligament injury in 2019. His recovery was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the emergence of Olympic champion Jeremy Lalrinnunga in a higher weight category prevented him from competing in the Birmingham 2022 Games.

With the introduction of the 65kg category, Raja has revitalized his career, achieving consistent results, including a ninth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships, where he recorded a personal best of 299kg.

Raja's success contributed to a fruitful day for India in weightlifting, as Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold in the women’s 48kg category, and Chanambam Rishikanta Singh earned silver in the men’s 60kg event.

However, India faced a setback in boxing as Aditya Pratap Yadav was eliminated from the men’s competition after a close 3-2 split-decision loss to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte in the pre-quarterfinals.