Valluri Ajaya Babu Reflects on Silver Medal Win at Commonwealth Games 2026

Ajaya's Mixed Emotions After Silver Medal Performance

In Glasgow, Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu expressed a blend of joy and disappointment after securing a silver medal in the men's 79kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026. He narrowly missed the gold, vowing to learn from his experience and return stronger in future events.

Following his impressive performance, Ajaya shared, "While I feel happiness for winning silver, there's also sadness for not clinching gold. I believe a mistake cost me the top spot today. I will work diligently to avoid such errors in my future competitions. The journey to this achievement has been incredibly challenging, and I have dedicated two years of hard work to reach this point. I am grateful for the silver medal, but I can't help but feel a bit of sadness for missing out on gold. I dedicate this medal to my coaches, my father, and my country, India."

The 22-year-old from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh showcased his skills by lifting a total of 330kg (149kg in snatch and 181kg in clean and jerk), just one kilogram behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who took home the gold with a total of 331kg, setting a Games record with a clean and jerk lift of 184kg.

Chris Murray from Scotland earned the bronze medal with a total lift of 325kg (148kg in snatch and 177kg in clean and jerk).

Ajaya kicked off his competition with a remarkable Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch, positioning himself as a contender for gold. However, Hidayat's strong clean and jerk performance allowed him to surpass Ajaya by a narrow margin.

This silver medal marks a significant achievement for Ajaya's family, as his father previously won a bronze medal in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and Ajaya has now surpassed that accomplishment.

Continuing the legacy of his hometown, Kondavelagada, which has produced 20 national and 13 international weightlifters, Ajaya's success adds to the village's rich sporting tradition.

Entering the Games with confidence after defeating Hidayat at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships earlier this year, Ajaya demonstrated his capability to compete at the highest level, despite the outcome in Glasgow.

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

With this latest achievement, India has now accumulated six medals in weightlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, including one gold, four silver, and one bronze.