His success is a matter of immense pride for Tamil Nadu: CM Vijay on commonwealth weight lifting silver medalist Raja Muthupandi (Ld)
Chennai, July 27
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, on Monday congratulated weightlifter Raja Muthupandi, who secured a silver medal in the men's 65kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and stated that his success is a matter of immense pride for Tamil Nadu.
CM Vijay also announced a cash award of Rs 30 lakh for the athlete on his achievement and stated that the reward was in recognition of his outstanding performance and expressed confidence that the medal-winning feat would inspire young sportspersons across the State.
He expressed hope that Muthupandi's achievement would motivate aspiring athletes to pursue excellence in sports and bring greater recognition to Tamil Nadu.
"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Raja Muthupandi for winning the silver medal in the men's 65kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow. His success is a matter of immense pride for Tamil Nadu. May this achievement inspire our youth, and I wish him many more victories that will bring honour to both Tamil Nadu and the nation," CM Vijay said.
He described Muthupandi's performance as a record-setting accomplishment and praised his perseverance on the international stage.
Announcing the ₹30 lakh cash award, the Chief Minister said the Tamil Nadu government would honour the athlete's success with one of the State's highest sports incentives.
The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, being held in Glasgow, brought together nearly 3,000 athletes from 74 countries.
India has fielded a 123-member contingent across various events and has continued to add to its medal tally with impressive performances.
Representing India in the men's 65kg weightlifting event, Raja Muthupandi, a native of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, displayed remarkable determination throughout the competition.
In the snatch event, he failed to lift 126kg in his opening attempt but recovered strongly to clear the same weight in his second attempt. His final effort of 129kg, however, was unsuccessful, leaving him with a best lift of 126kg in the discipline.
In the clean and jerk segment, Muthupandi again demonstrated resilience after failing in his opening attempt at 158kg.
Regrouping quickly, he successfully lifted 160kg in his second attempt, taking his combined total to 286kg.
The effort earned him the silver medal and placed him among the top performers in his weight category.
Hailing the achievement as a proud moment for Tamil Nadu and India, Chief Minister Vijay extended his heartfelt congratulations to the young weightlifter through a message on social media.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great achievement by Muthupandi! From a small town in TN to international glory. The comeback after failing early lifts shows true sportsmanship. Well done!
Heartwarming to see a CM personally congratulate and reward a weightlifter. ₹30 lakh is good, but we need more grassroots support. Many talented kids in rural TN lack proper equipment. Hope this motivates the government to invest more in sports infrastructure. 🏋️♂️
Amazing resilience from Muthupandi! Failed first attempts but came back stronger. That's what sports is all about. Makes me proud as a Tamilian. 💪
Glad to see weightlifting getting attention. But honestly, ₹30 lakh for a silver at Commonwealth level? Should be more. Our athletes sacrifice so much. Hope the government also thinks about long-term career support, not just one-time rewards.
Fantastic news! A 286kg total is impressive. But I wish the govt would focus on systematic coaching from school level. We need more international-level facilities in tier-2 cities like Thoothukudi, not just cash awards after success.
Proud moment for India! 🇮🇳 From failing 126kg to lifting 160kg in clean & jerk – that's champion mentality.
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