Harjinder Kaur Secures Silver Medal in Women's 69kg Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026
Harjinder Kaur's Impressive Silver Medal Win
Indian weightlifter Harjinder Kaur showcased her talent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, clinching the silver medal in the women's 69kg division with a remarkable total lift of 227kg on Tuesday night in Glasgow. The athlete from Punjab demonstrated exceptional skill, achieving 101kg in the snatch and 126kg in the clean and jerk, finishing just behind Canada's Charlotte Simoneau, who took home the gold with a total of 235kg (108kg in snatch and 127kg in clean and jerk).
A Record-Breaking Performance
Harjinder stood out during the competition, breaking the Commonwealth Games record twice in the snatch event. She began with a successful lift of 96kg, followed by 99kg, which set a new Games record. She then surpassed her own record with an impressive lift of 101kg on her final attempt, keeping her in the running for gold as she moved into the clean and jerk phase.
Confidently, she opened the clean and jerk with a successful lift of 120kg, briefly taking the lead and applying pressure on her Canadian competitor. She later completed a lift of 126kg, achieving a personal best total of 227kg, which secured her the silver medal. Although Simoneau regained the lead with a final lift to secure gold, Harjinder's performance was one of her career highlights, showcasing India's growing prowess in weightlifting at the Glasgow Games.
From Bronze to Silver
This silver medal marks an improvement from her bronze medal finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, making this her second consecutive podium appearance at the Commonwealth Games.
Born on October 14, 1996, in Nabha, Punjab, Harjinder has consistently risen to prominence among India's elite weightlifters.
India's Strong Showing in Glasgow
Her latest accomplishment adds to India's impressive medal tally in weightlifting, a discipline where the country has excelled at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
India has had a successful campaign in Glasgow, amassing a total of 11 medals thus far, including two gold, six silver, and three bronze. The medalists include 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), Harjinder Kaur (silver, weightlifting), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa K. Shyla (bronze, women's shot put F57), and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting).