"Missed gold by one kilogram": Ajaya Babu reflects on CWG 2026 silver
New Delhi, August 2
Indian weightlifters Valluri Ajaya Babu and Muthupandi Raja, who returned to the national capital on Sunday, reflected on their medal-winning performances at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, with both athletes already setting their sights on future competitions.
Ajaya Babu secured silver in the men's 79kg category and said he was pleased with his performance despite narrowly missing out on the gold medal by one kilogram.
"I feel good because I've put in a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games. It is disappointing that I missed the gold by just one kilogram--but I'll try to do better next time," Ajaya Babu told ANI.
The weightlifter also revealed his plans for the next major events, saying he would work towards qualifying for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
"I'll be preparing to qualify for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the LA28 Games," he added.
Meanwhile, Raja Muthupandi won silver in the men's 65kg weightlifting event and described the achievement as a memorable milestone, calling it his first medal.
"It feels really good after winning silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. I had aimed for gold; I felt a bit disappointed that I didn't perform well enough to secure it. However, I'm still happy because this is my first medal," Muthupandi told ANI.
The weightlifter also expressed happiness at receiving a warm welcome after returning from Glasgow and said the support from fans and well-wishers was motivating. Muthupandi added that he would work with his coach to begin preparations for the 2028 Olympic qualification rounds.
"It feels wonderful to see everyone here; having people come out to welcome us after winning the medal makes us feel great. We will plan with our coach and start preparing for the 2028 Olympics qualification rounds," he added.
On winning the silver medal in the women's 69kg category, weightlifter Harjinder Kaur told reporters, "I am feeling very good. Last time I won the bronze medal, and this time I won the silver medal. There was improvement in the overall training, and I hope that I perform better in future competitions."
On winning the Bronze medal in the Women's 58kg category, Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam said, "I am very happy to see that everyone has come here to welcome us. I aim to perform better in the upcoming competitions..."
India's medal winners in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2026 included Mirabai Chanu, who won gold in the women's 48kg category.
Gyaneshwari Yadav and Harjinder Kaur secured silver medals in the women's 53kg and 69kg categories, respectively, while Rishikanta Singh, Muthupandi Raja, Valluri Ajaya Babu and Lovepreet Singh also won silver medals in the men's 60kg, 65kg, 79kg and +110kg categories, respectively. Bindyarani Devi added a bronze medal in the women's 58kg category.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Ek kilogram se gold miss karna really heartbreaking hai. But silver at CWG is no small achievement! Ajaya Babu and Muthupandi Raja both have bright futures. The support they received at the airport shows how proud we are of them. 👏
India's weightlifting contingent is really stepping up! From Mirabai Chanu's gold to multiple silvers, this is a fantastic haul. Ajaya Babu's attitude is commendable - instead of sulking over missing gold, he's already planning for 2028 Olympics. That's the spirit of a true athlete!
Muthupandi Raja's story is so inspiring - first medal at CWG and he's already targeting Olympics. The welcome they received after returning to India shows how much these athletes mean to us. Government should invest more in weightlifting infrastructure to help them win gold next time! 🙏
Great to see Indian weightlifters performing consistently on the international stage. Ajaya Babu's one-kilogram miss shows how competitive the sport is at this level. Hopefully, with better training facilities and nutrition support, they can convert those silvers into gold at LA28. Wishing them all the best!
I appreciate the honest reflection from both athletes. They acknowledge the disappointment but also celebrate their achievement. This is exactly the kind of balanced mindset needed for long-term success. With proper coaching and sports science support, these athletes can definitely aim for gold in the next Olympics. Proud of our weightlifting team! 🇮🇳
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