CWG 2026: Lifter Lovepreet Singh settles for silver after missing gold by just 1kg in men's +110kg
Glasgow, July 31
India's Lovepreet Singh produced a valiant performance but fell agonisingly short of the gold medal, claiming silver in the men's +110kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
Lovepreet finished with a combined lift of 388kg, just 1kg behind New Zealand's David Liti, who won gold with 389kg. England's Andrew Griffiths completed the podium with a total of 356kg.
The Indian lifter opened strongly in the snatch, successfully lifting 176kg to stay in contention for the top spot. In the clean and jerk, he cleared 205kg and 212kg before making a bold attempt at 217kg in his final lift. Although the final attempt was unsuccessful, his total of 388kg was enough to secure the silver medal.
David Liti, who had lifted 166kg in the snatch, produced a decisive 223kg clean and jerk to edge ahead of Lovepreet by the narrowest possible margin and clinch the Commonwealth title.
Despite the heartbreak of missing gold by just one kilogram, Lovepreet's performance added another medal to India's tally in Glasgow and highlighted his consistency on the biggest stage. His silver medal was the result of a composed display under pressure, with the Indian heavyweight pushing the eventual champion until the very end.
The medal further strengthened India's impressive campaign in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games, where the country's lifters have once again emerged among the leading performers.
Born on September 6, 1997, in Bal Sachandar village, Amritsar, Punjab, Lovepreet Singh comes from a humble family. Inspired by local weightlifters, he began weightlifting in 2010 at the age of 13 under the guidance of local coaches. Despite financial hardships, his determination and disciplined training helped him progress steadily through the junior and senior ranks.
Lovepreet represented Punjab in national competitions before joining the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Camp at NS NIS Patiala in 2017. He initially competed in the 105 kg category, winning medals at the Junior Commonwealth and Asian Junior Championships. After the introduction of new IWF weight categories, he moved to the 109 kg category, where he won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
— IANS
Reader Comments
That clean and jerk attempt at 217kg was gutsy. He knew he had to push Liti all the way. Respect for the effort, even if it didn't work out. India's weightlifting program is clearly producing results.
Silver is great but we need to ask: why does India always fall short by such small margins? Is it training, diet, or mental preparation? Our lifters have raw talent but maybe we need better sports science support. Still, very proud of Lovepreet! 🙌
Lovepreet's story is what makes the Commonwealth Games special. Coming from a humble background in Bal Sachandar village, starting at 13 with local coaches, and now competing against the world's best. That's pure desi determination! Gold next time, bhai! 💪
Impressive performance by Lovepreet. That 176kg snatch was clean. Liti's 223kg clean and jerk was world-class though. India should be thrilled with silver in this heavyweight class - the competition is getting tougher every cycle.
I remember when he won bronze in 2022, and now silver. Consistent improvement is the mark of a true champion. Plus, he's juggling training at SAI Patiala - our sports infrastructure is improving slowly but surely. Lovepreet, you've made Punjab proud! 🏆
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.