Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu congratulates Ajaya Babu on winning CWG silver
Amaravati, July 28
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy have congratulated weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Ajaya Babu set a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch before lifting 181kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 330kg in Glasgow, narrowly missing gold in the men's 79kg competition by just 1kg.
"Congratulations to Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Following in the footsteps of his father, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Valluri Srinivasa Rao Garu, Ajaya has carried forward a proud sporting legacy with great dedication. His outstanding achievement has made Andhra Pradesh and the nation proud. May he continue to lift India's sporting excellence on the global stage!" the Chief Minister posted on X.
Pawan Kalyan took to 'X' to congratulate Ajaya Babu, who hails from the Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. "Heartiest congratulations to Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at the CWG2026 in Glasgow, bringing yet another moment of glory to India. From Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, Ajaya has carried forward a remarkable sporting legacy, following in the footsteps of his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, a Commonwealth Games medallist," Pawan Kalyan said.
"His inspiring journey stands as a shining example of dedication, discipline, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Missing the Gold by the narrowest of margins, your exceptional performance reflects the courage, resilience, and determination of a true champion. The entire nation celebrates your achievement, while Andhra Pradesh takes immense pride in one of its sons bringing laurels to Bharat. May this remarkable success be the first of many greater triumphs on the global stage. Wishing you continued success and many more glorious victories in the years ahead," added the Deputy Chief Minister.
Sports Minister Mandipally Ramprasad Reddy has also congratulated Ajaya Babu. He expressed happiness over the Telugu weightlifter bringing glory to the nation with his remarkable performance at the Commonwealth Games.
The minister stated that sportspersons from Andhra Pradesh, through their performance at the international level, are proving an inspiration for the youth. He said the coalition government has set the goal of encouraging sportspersons and providing them opportunities at the international level.
The sports minister said the government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was according top priority to sports.
Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) Chairman Ravi Naidu has also congratulated Ajaya Babu. He wished that Ajaya Babu would bring more laurels to Andhra Pradesh and the nation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
So proud of this young man from Vizianagaram! His father must be beaming with pride. But I wonder, will the Andhra government actually provide proper facilities for weightlifters, or is this just another photo-op moment? We need systematic sports development, not just congratulations after medals.
Superb performance! 149kg in snatch is world-class. Good to see the Chief Minister and Deputy CM taking time to acknowledge such achievements. This is how you build a sporting culture - by celebrating every medal. Next stop: Gold at the Asian Games! 🏋️♂️
Incredible legacy - father won bronze, son wins silver. That's real sports heritage. I hope more young athletes from smaller towns in India get the support they need to reach this level. The margin was so thin - with better facilities, he could have taken gold easily.
Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan both congratulating - good to see bipartisan support for our athletes. But the real test is whether SAAP actually provides world-class training facilities. Let's not just celebrate, let's invest in our weightlifters. Well done Ajaya Babu!
Missing gold by 1kg... that's so close yet so far! But a silver in Commonwealth Games is still a massive achievement. He's only 23, I'm sure there's more to come. And that record in snatch shows his potential. Future champion in the making! 🙌
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.