Vizianagaram weightlifter Ajaya Babu clinches silver at Commonwealth Games
Ajaya Babu Secures Silver in Glasgow
Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, earned a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included a Games record in the snatch event. This achievement marks India’s sixth medal in weightlifting at the current edition of the Games.
Ajaya Babu lifted 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk, accumulating a total of 330kg. He narrowly missed the gold medal, falling short by just 1kg to Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who secured gold with a total lift of 331kg. England’s Chris Murray took the bronze medal with a total of 325kg.
The competition in the men’s 79kg category was intense. Ajaya Babu began the snatch section with a successful lift of 145kg, which initially set a Games record. He then improved his performance to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the Games record for the snatch section. Following the snatch, Ajaya Babu was in the lead, with Chris Murray in second place after a 148kg lift, and Erry Hidayat Muhammad in third with 147kg.
A Gripping Clean and Jerk Battle
The clean and jerk section saw a shift in the standings. Erry Hidayat Muhammad took the lead early by lifting 177kg in his first attempt. Ajaya Babu responded with a lift of 174kg. Erry then successfully lifted 181kg, while Ajaya Babu completed a lift of 178kg. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg, but Erry Hidayat Muhammad secured the gold by successfully lifting 184kg, surpassing Ajaya Babu by a minimal margin.
The Malaysian lifter’s total of 331kg also set a new Games record. This thrilling contest on Monday night showcased a high level of competition among the top weightlifters. Erry Hidayat Muhammad, like Ajaya Babu, was also aiming to emulate a family legacy, as his father, Hidayat Hamidon, won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Family Legacy and Promising Future
Ajaya Babu’s silver medal performance surpasses his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao’s, achievement at the Commonwealth Games. Srinivasa Rao, a multiple national champion, had won a bronze medal in the 56kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. He had suffered a hamstring injury a month before the 2010 Games, which affected his performance.
The village of Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram district, where Ajaya Babu and his father hail from, has a notable history in weightlifting, having produced approximately 20 international and 40 national weightlifters. Srinivasa Rao, a pioneer from the village, had initially hoped for Ajaya Babu to pursue badminton, even receiving an offer from Pullela Gopichand for his academy in Hyderabad. However, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred him to stay closer to home.
Ajaya Babu, at 21 years old, has a strong track record in weightlifting. He previously won gold medals at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad in the men’s 79kg category, achieving a personal-best total lift of 335kg (152kg snatch + 183kg clean & jerk) and breaking championship records. This performance secured his direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Suva, Fiji, he earned double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. He also placed 16th overall among 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.
His recent silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games further highlights his potential and contributes to India’s continued success in the sport.
Source: newindianexpress.com
