CWG 2026: Valluri Ajaya Babu Secures Silver in Thrilling Men's 79kg Weightlifting Final

India's Valluri Ajaya Babu produced a remarkable performance to claim the silver medal in the Men's 79kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, narrowly missing the gold medal by just one kilogram in a dramatic finale at the Scottish Event Campus.

Sheer strength on show! 🥈

Many congratulations to Khelo India athlete Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting.

With a total lift of 330kg, he also set a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch. A memorable performance and another proud… pic.twitter.com/GMCQPQtIvm

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 28, 2026

The 21-year-old lifter from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, registered a combined lift of 330kg, comprising 149kg in Snatch and 181kg in Clean & Jerk. Malaysia's Erry Hidayat Muhammad secured the gold with a total of 331kg, while England's Chris Murray completed the podium with bronze.

Ajaya Babu Dominates the Snatch

Ajaya Babu began confidently with a successful 145kg opening lift. Although he failed his second attempt at 149kg, he displayed impressive composure by returning to successfully lift the same weight on his final attempt.

His 149kg Snatch briefly established a Commonwealth Games record, placing him ahead of Chris Murray (148kg) and Erry Hidayat Muhammad (147kg) after the opening discipline.

Nail-Biting Finish in Clean & Jerk

The competition intensified during the Clean & Jerk.

Erry Hidayat Muhammad initially lifted 181kg, setting a new Games record. Ajaya Babu immediately matched the effort on his final attempt, taking his overall total to 330kg and temporarily moving into the gold medal position.
However, with the final lift of the competition, the Malaysian lifter successfully cleared 184kg, reclaiming the Games record and sealing the gold medal with a winning total of 331kg, leaving Ajaya Babu with a well-deserved silver.

Rising Star of Indian Weightlifting

Ajaya Babu has rapidly emerged as one of India's brightest weightlifting talents.

His recent achievements include:

Gold medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad with a personal-best total of 335kg (152kg Snatch + 183kg Clean & Jerk), earning direct qualification for Glasgow 2026.

Double gold medals at the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Fiji in both the Junior and Senior Men's 81kg categories.

The silver medal further strengthens India's impressive weightlifting campaign, becoming the nation's sixth podium finish in the sport at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026.