President Droupadi Murmu congratulates weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav for her CWG 2026 silver
New Delhi, July 27
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav for clinching a silver medal in the women's 53kg category on her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow on Monday.
Gyaneshwari's silver medal lifted India's tally to five medals, comprising one gold, three silvers and one bronze, adding to the country's strong showing at the Games.
In an X post, President Murmu congratulated Gyaneshwari and praised the weightlifter's discipline and hard work, describing her performance as inspiring, and wished her greater success in the future.
"Heartiest congratulations to Gyaneshwari Yadav on securing the Silver Medal in the Women's 53 kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. Your inspiring performance is a testament to your discipline and hard work. May you continue to scale greater heights in future," she said.
The 23-year-old from Chhattisgarh displayed remarkable composure and determination throughout the event, pushing the limits of her ability and setting multiple Games records in a hard-fought battle for the top spot, according to ESPN.
Gyaneshwari began her campaign in the snatch with an impressive 82kg lift before raising the bar to 85kg on her second attempt. She then delivered a sensational 88kg lift, breaking the Commonwealth Games record in the category and putting pressure on Didih.
The Nigerian lifter, however, responded with a record-breaking 93kg snatch to take the lead heading into the clean and jerk. The gold medal fight continued as both young athletes showcased exceptional strength and technique.
Gyaneshwari opened the clean and jerk round with a powerful 103kg lift, taking her total to 191kg and setting another Games record. She followed it up with a 107kg lift, once again improving the mark and reducing the gap to Didih.
With the gold medal still within reach, Gyaneshwari attempted 111kg in her final lift and successfully completed it, finishing with a total of 199kg. The lift earned her another Games and Commonwealth record, but Didih responded with a stunning 113kg effort to seal the gold medal for Nigeria with 206kg total.
Despite missing out on the top spot, Gyaneshwari's silver medal marked a significant milestone in her career. The Chhattisgarh athlete had earlier competed in the 49kg category but moved up to 53kg, recognising the challenge of competing against India's Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu in the lower weight division.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a fight she put up against the Nigerian lifter! Record after record... that 111kg final lift was pure guts. Reminds me of Mirabai Chanu's spirit. India's weightlifting future looks bright with athletes like her and Jeremy Lalrinnunga. 🇮🇳
The President's post on X was lovely, but we need more than just social media praise. Our athletes need better training facilities and financial support, especially those from small towns like Gyaneshwari. Congrats to her though! Silver is huge, she made India proud. 🙌
5 medals already and still going strong! This CWG is showing India's depth in sports beyond cricket. Gyaneshwari moving up from 49kg to 53kg to avoid competing against Mirabai shows smart strategy. Both are champions in their own right. Well done, keep lifting! 💪
Lovely to see more recognition for athletics from the highest office. Gyaneshwari's performance was superb—breaking multiple Games records at just 23! The Nigerian girl was phenomenal too, but this silver is worth its weight in gold for the experience. Future Olympic medalist in the making! 🥈🏅
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