Vizianagaram weightlifter Ajaya Babu clinches silver at Commonwealth Games

By Rohan Gupta — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Ajaya Babu’s Commonwealth Games Performance

Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included a Games record lift of 149kg in the snatch section and 181kg in the clean and jerk, leading to a total of 330kg. This achievement represents India’s sixth weightlifting medal at the current Commonwealth Games.

The competition for gold was intense, with Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad ultimately winning the gold medal with a total lift of 331kg. Muhammad’s lifts included 147kg in snatch and 184kg in clean and jerk, setting a new Games record for the total. England’s Chris Murray earned the bronze medal with a total of 325kg.

Ajaya Babu’s journey to the silver medal saw him start the snatch section with a 145kg lift, which initially set a Games record. He later improved this to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the record. In the snatch section, Murray finished second behind Ajaya Babu with a best lift of 148kg, while Muhammad was third with 147kg.

The clean and jerk section saw a shift in standings. Muhammad took the lead with a 177kg lift, while Ajaya Babu managed 174kg. Muhammad then lifted 181kg, and Ajaya Babu followed with 178kg. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg, but Muhammad’s successful lift of 184kg secured him the gold medal by a narrow margin of 1kg.

Family Legacy and Training

Ajaya Babu’s silver medal surpasses his father’s previous Commonwealth Games achievement. His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, a multiple-time national champion in weightlifting, won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in the 56kg category. Rao had aimed for gold in 2010 but sustained a hamstring injury a month before the event, which impacted his performance.

The village of Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram district, where Ajaya Babu and his father hail from, has a notable history in weightlifting. With a population of approximately 3,000, the village has produced around 20 international and 40 national weightlifters, with Rao being a pioneering figure. This environment naturally influenced Ajaya Babu and his younger brother, Akhil, to pursue weightlifting professionally.

Despite Rao’s close friendship with Pullela Gopichand, who suggested Ajaya Babu pursue badminton at his Hyderabad academy, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred him to stay closer to home due to his young age. This decision kept Ajaya Babu in his village, where he grew up observing his father and others in their daily weightlifting routines, eventually leading him to embrace the sport.

A Promising Future

Ajaya Babu’s recent success builds on a strong track record. He previously won gold medals at the Commonwealth Championships. In the 2025 Commonwealth Championships held in Ahmedabad, he secured a gold medal in the men’s 79kg category with a personal-best total lift of 335kg, comprising 152kg snatch and 183kg clean and jerk. This performance broke championship records and earned him direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Prior to that, in the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Suva, Fiji, Ajaya Babu achieved double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. His participation in the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway, saw him place 16th overall among 39 lifters, further highlighting his potential in the sport.

The 21-year-old lifter’s consistent performances mark him as a fast-rising talent in Indian weightlifting. His silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games adds to his growing list of achievements.

The silver medal in Glasgow was secured on Monday night.

Source: newindianexpress.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter