Rishikanta Singh Secures Silver at 2026 Commonwealth Games Amid Injury Struggles

Rishikanta Singh's Remarkable Achievement

Indian weightlifter Rishikanta Singh expressed his thoughts after clinching the silver medal in the men's 60 KG category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) on Sunday, July 26. The athlete from Manipur secured second place, finishing behind Malaysia's Aniq Kasdan. Rishikanta achieved a remarkable lift of 121 KG in the clean and jerk, setting a new CWG record. However, his total lift was 264 kg, which included a 143 kg lift in the snatch. Kasdan, on the other hand, set a games record with an overall total of 273 kg, including a 152 kg lift in the snatch.

In an exclusive interview, Rishikanta shared his dissatisfaction with his performance, citing an ongoing injury. He revealed that he experienced pain during the clean and jerk event, which influenced his decision to prioritize securing a medal over attempting a heavier lift of 145 kg. "This is my dream. Coming from a small village and winning a medal for India makes me very happy and excited. However, my performance today was not satisfactory due to knee issues that have persisted without proper treatment," he stated.

Rishikanta continued, "I struggled with doubts about my ability to perform. Thanks to my physiotherapist, Rohit, and my coach, Vijay Sharma, I managed to focus on my training. During practice, I was able to perform well, but the pain returned during the clean and jerk. I decided to lower my initial lift to ensure I secured a medal." He also acknowledged his role models, particularly Kunjarani Devi from Manipur and his training partner, Vaishnavi, who has been a significant source of support and guidance.

Rishikanta encouraged young people to engage in sports for health and discipline. He expressed his ambition to win a medal at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games, stating, "If my injury heals, I aim to win a medal. So far, there has been no male medalist from India in the Asian Games."