India’s Valluri Ajaya Babu claimed the silver medal in the men’s 79kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with a strong performance to continue the country’s impressive run in the sport.
The 21-year-old from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh registered a total lift of 330kg, comprising a Games record 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk, to finish second on the podium.
Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhamad won the gold medal with a Games record total of 331kg, lifting 147kg in the snatch and 184kg in the clean and jerk. England’s Chris Murray secured the bronze with a total of 325kg.
Ajaya Babu led the competition after the snatch phase with his record-breaking 149kg lift. Although he failed in his opening attempt at that weight, he successfully lifted it on his final try to move ahead of his rivals. In the clean and jerk, Hidayat first equalled the Games record total before extending it with his final lift of 184kg to clinch the gold by just one kilogram.
The silver medal is India’s sixth medal in weightlifting at the ongoing Commonwealth Games.
Ajaya Babu entered the Games in strong form after winning gold in the men’s 79kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad with a 335kg total, his personal best. He also claimed double gold at the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Fiji and represented India at the 2025 World Championships in Norway.
