TN CM Vijay announces Rs 30 lakh reward for CWG 2026 silver medalist weightlifter Raja Muthupandi
Chennai, July 27
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced a cash incentive of Rs 30 lakh for weightlifter Raja Muthupandi, who secured a silver medal in the men's 65kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Congratulating the athlete on his achievement, the Chief Minister said the reward was in recognition of his outstanding performance and expressed confidence that the medal-winning feat would inspire young sportspersons across the State.
Raja finished with a total of 286kg (126kg+160kg). Raja opened with a successful 125kg snatch before improving to 126kg on his second attempt. He was unable to clear 129kg with his final lift. In the clean and jerk, he successfully lifted 158kg and 160kg before failing at 170kg in his final attempt. The effort earned him the silver medal.
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. He described Muthupandi's performance as a record-setting accomplishment and praised his perseverance on the international stage.
Announcing the Rs 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. 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," Vijay said.
In 2025, Raja won silver at the Commonwealth Championships (296 kg) and set a new personal best of 299 kg (130 kg snatch + 169 kg clean and jerk) at the World Championships in Førde, Norway, finishing 9th in the 65 kg category, making him one of India's top male lifters heading toward LA 2028.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Wonderful achievement! But I wish the government would also invest in training infrastructure and nutrition for athletes from smaller towns. Cash rewards are great, but long-term support matters more. Still, congratulations Raja! 🌟
Finally some good news from our sports scene! Raja's progression from 286kg to 299kg PB shows real hunger. Hope this motivates our weightlifting federation to scout more talent in Tamil Nadu. The LA 2028 target seems realistic if he keeps improving 💪
So happy for him! But honestly, our state governments should focus more on creating a sports culture from school level. We have so much raw talent in villages but no proper coaches or equipment. Cash rewards won't fix the system. Just my honest opinion.
Great to see Indian talent shining globally! The incremental improvements—125kg to 126kg snatch, 158kg to 160kg clean & jerk—show real grit. 30 lakh is a nice incentive but I hope it's tax-free for the athlete. Well done, Team India! 🇮🇳
Raja Muthupandi is a role model for every youngster in Tamil Nadu who dreams of making it big in sports. The CM's announcement is timely, but let's not forget that athletes like him need consistent medical support and training facilities. Silver today, gold tomorrow! 🥈➡️🥇
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