"Proud moment for Indian weightlifting": Mansukh Mandaviya lauds Raja Muthupandi's silver in CWG 2026
New Delhi, July 27
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday lauded Raja Muthupandi's silver-medal performance in the Men's 65kg weightlifting event of the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games, calling it another proud achievement for India.
Muthupandi capped a memorable comeback by clinching the silver medal in the men's 65kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Sunday (local time).
"Proud Moment for Indian Weightlifting! Many congratulations to Raja Muthupandi for clinching Silver in Men's 65kg Weightlifting," Mandaviya wrote in an X post.
The 26-year-old finished with a combined total of 286kg, lifting 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk to secure second place on the podium.
Malaysia's Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed claimed the gold medal with a Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, sealing his third successive Commonwealth Games title after victories at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
Muthupandi made a strong start to his campaign, successfully lifting 126kg in the snatch on his second attempt. He then cleared 160kg in the clean and jerk, also on his second attempt, to register a total lift of 286kg, securing the silver medal and adding another podium finish to India's tally in Glasgow.
The silver medal added to India's rich haul in weightlifting on Sunday. Earlier, Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu secured a third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's 48kg category, while Chanambam Rishikanta Singh claimed silver in the men's 60kg event.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great effort by Raja, but I wish we could have pushed for gold. The gap of 13kg is substantial though – shows the level of competition. However, on a positive note, three medals in weightlifting on the same day? That's absolutely fantastic! Our athletes are really making us proud. 🔥
As a Tamilian, I'm so proud to see Raja Muthupandi bringing glory to our state and nation! 🙌 His journey from a small village in Tamil Nadu to the CWG podium is the kind of story we need to celebrate more. Hope the government supports him for future Olympics preparation!
Respect to Malaysia's Aznil for his third consecutive gold – that's legendary consistency. But Raja Muthupandi's silver is equally commendable given he came back from injury setbacks. The 160kg clean and jerk was beautifully executed. India's weightlifting future looks bright with talents like Mirabai, Rishikanta and now Raja! 💪
Honestly, I think we need to look beyond just praising and actually analyse why we're consistently falling short of gold in weightlifting. Great performance by Raja, but our infrastructure for niche sports still needs massive improvement. Kudos to the athletes who succeed despite these challenges though! 🏅
What a day for Indian sports! Mirabai Chanu's hat-trick of golds, Rishikanta's silver, and now Raja's silver – it's raining medals! 🎉 The sports minister's acknowledgment is important for motivation. India is truly emerging as a
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