'I spoke to my mother first, she was a little upset...': Weightlifter Harjinder on CWG silver win
New Delhi, July 29
Indian weightlifter Harjinder Kaur revealed she shared the joy of winning a silver medal in the women's 69kg event at the Commonwealth Games with her mother, who was a little upset with her due to being away for competitions.
Harjinder, who added another medal to the country's tally at the Commonwealth Games 2026, clinching the silver medal in the women's 69 kg weightlifting competition, said she reaches out to her mother immediately after winning any major events.
'I usually call my mother first whenever I win a medal, and today was no different-I spoke to her briefly right after my event as she was a little upset with me for being away at competitions for so long," Harjinder told IANS.
The 29-year-old weightlifter finished with a combined lift of 227kg (101kg snatch + 126kg clean and jerk). She stayed in medal contention throughout the competition and sealed second place with a successful 126 kg lift in her final clean and jerk attempt to secure her second successive Commonwealth Games medal.
Reflecting on her performance, the weightlifter admitted that while she had achieved higher numbers during training sessions, she was pleased with her consistency on the big stage.
"I am happy with my silver medal. I have achieved better clean and jerk lifts during my training, but I am satisfied that all six of my lifts were valid," she said.
Having set her sights on the top step of the podium, Harjinder, who upgraded her bronze from 2022 Birmingham Games to Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow, revealed that upgrading her medal status was her main target entering the competition. "I came here with the goal of changing the colour of my medal," she added.
Harjinder's sporting journey began late and unexpectedly. She was initially a passionate Kabaddi player, training as a raider and even cycling five kilometres daily just to practice. It was only in 2016, at the age of 20, that her life changed at Punjabi University in Patiala.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly this is exactly how Indian families work... no matter how big the achievement, mom will always be like "but you're never home" 😂 But seriously though, Harjinder had to cycle 5 km just for kabaddi practice, and now she's winning medals for India. What an inspiration for all the young girls in our villages!
I think it's brilliant that she came from a kabaddi background to weightlifting... Not many people can make that transition at 20. Her six valid lifts all counting is also a testament to her technique and mental strength under pressure. She dropped from bronze to silver in just one cycle, imagine what she'll do in 2030!
Interesting journey from kabaddi to weightlifting. But honestly, 227kg total seems a bit low for international standards, especially in the 69kg category. I respect her discipline and family values, but if India wants to win gold at the Olympics, we need to be lifting much heavier. No disrespect, just facts.
The fact that she cried because her mom was "upset" shows how much family means to her... these are the real emotions behind the medals. Also, taking up weightlifting at 20 is quite late by international standards, so for her to medal at CWG twice is remarkable! Harjinder di, you've made Punjab proud! 🏋️♀️💪
This is what makes Indian athletes special... the raw emotion, the family connection, the journey. She went from cycling 5 km for kabaddi practice to lifting 126 kg on the world stage. If only more
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