India continues its strong performance in weightlifting as Ajaya Babu Valluri clinched gold in the men’s 79kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025, held in Ahmedabad. His win also ensures qualification for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
The event saw participation from over 300 lifters across 31 nations. Indian weightlifters, including Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, delivered impressive performances with multiple medals.
Key Highlights
Ajaya Babu Valluri (Men’s 79kg): Gold medal with a total lift of 335 kg, ahead of:
- Muhammad Erry (Malaysia) – 333 kg (silver)
- Adedapo Adeleke (Nigeria) – 306 kg (bronze)
Other Indian Winners:
Men:
- Ajith Narayana (71kg) – Gold
- Muthupandi Raja (65kg) – Silver
- Dilbag Singh (94kg) – Silver
- Lovepreet Singh (110kg+) – Bronze
Women:
- Mirabai Chanu (48kg) – Gold (secured Glasgow 2026 qualification)
- Soumya Sunil Dalvi (48kg) – Silver
- Sneha Soren (53kg) – Silver
- Bindyarani Devi (58kg) – Silver
- Nirupama Devi (63kg) – Silver
- Mehak Sharma (86+kg) – Silver
- Harjinder Kaur (69kg) – Bronze
- Vanshita Verma (86kg) – Bronze
- Harjinder Kaur (Women’s 69kg): Bronze with a total lift of 222 kg.
- Event Facts:
- 30th edition of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
- Hosted in Ahmedabad, India.
- Featured 31 participating nations.
- Automatic qualification for Commonwealth Games 2026, Glasgow (Scotland) for winners in each senior category.
Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships
- Organized by the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation (CWF).
- It acts as a qualification event for the Commonwealth Games.
- First held in 1949.
Commonwealth Games 2026
- Host: Glasgow, Scotland.
- India has been a regular participant since 1934.
- India’s weightlifting has historically been a medal-rich discipline at the Commonwealth Games.
Weightlifting in India
- Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) – Governing body, founded in 1935.
- India has produced champions like:
- Mirabai Chanu – Tokyo 2020 Olympics Silver, multiple CWG medals.
- Karnam Malleswari – First Indian woman Olympic medalist (Sydney 2000, Bronze).
- Bindyarani Devi, Harjinder Kaur – Consistent CWG performers.
Key Facts
- Headquarters of IWLF: New Delhi.
- Tokyo 2020: Mirabai Chanu – Silver (Women’s 49kg).
- CWG 2022, Birmingham: India won 10 medals in weightlifting (3 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze).
- Gujarat hosted the National Games 2022, with weightlifting being a key event.