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By Ishaan Kapoor — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Vizianagaram Weightlifter Achieves Commonwealth Games Silver

Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Vizianagaram district, has secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included a Games record in the snatch discipline. This achievement marks a significant moment for Ajaya Babu, who narrowly missed out on a gold medal by just 1kg.

Ajaya Babu’s total lift was 330kg, comprising a 149kg snatch and a 181kg clean and jerk. This silver medal is India’s sixth in weightlifting at the current Commonwealth Games. The competition was intense, with Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad ultimately claiming the gold medal with a total lift of 331kg.

A Family Legacy in Weightlifting

Ajaya Babu’s success builds upon a strong family tradition in weightlifting. His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, was a multiple national champion and a bronze medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in the 56kg category. The village of Kondavelagada, where the family resides, has a notable history of producing weightlifters, with approximately 20 international and 40 national lifters emerging from its population of around 3,000.

Srinivasa Rao had initially considered a different path for his elder son, Ajaya Babu, suggesting he pursue badminton at Pullela Gopichand’s Hyderabad academy. However, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred that he remain closer to home. This decision led Ajaya Babu and his younger brother, Akhil, to grow up immersed in the sport, watching their father and others train daily.

Srinivasa Rao expressed a strong desire for his son to win gold, particularly after his own experience at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He had been confident of a gold medal in New Delhi but suffered a hamstring injury a month before the event, which impacted his performance and resulted in a bronze.

Thrilling Contest and Record-Breaking Lifts

The men’s 79kg weightlifting event in Glasgow was a gripping contest. Ajaya Babu commenced the snatch section with a lift of 145kg, immediately setting a Games record. He then improved his performance to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the Games record in snatch.

His closest competitor, Erry Hidayat Muhammad, struggled with his initial attempts at 147kg but successfully completed the lift in his final try to remain in medal contention. England’s Chris Murray also performed well in the snatch section, finishing second behind Ajaya Babu with a best lift of 148kg, while Erry was third and Canadian Shad Darsigny was fourth.

The clean and jerk section saw a shift in momentum. Erry Hidayat Muhammad took the lead with a 177kg lift on his first attempt. Ajaya Babu followed with a 174kg lift. Erry then lifted 181kg, and Ajaya Babu completed a 178kg lift. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu heaved 181kg, but Erry successfully lifted 184kg, securing the gold medal by a minimal margin.

A Promising Future for Indian Weightlifting

Ajaya Babu, at 21 years old, is considered one of India’s rapidly developing weightlifters. His previous achievements include winning gold in the men’s 79kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad. During that event, he achieved a personal-best total lift of 335kg, with a 152kg snatch and 183kg clean and jerk, breaking championship records.

This performance in Ahmedabad earned him direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Additionally, in the 2024 Commonwealth Championships held in Suva, Fiji, he secured double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. Following these successes, he placed 16th overall in a competitive field of 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.

Source: newindianexpress.com