Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram district, has secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This achievement marks an upgrade to his family’s legacy, as his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, previously won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Ajaya Babu’s performance contributed to India‘s six weightlifting medals at the Glasgow Games.
The 21-year-old athlete’s total lift was 330kg, comprising 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk. He narrowly missed the gold medal by just 1kg, which was won by Malaysia‘s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who achieved a total of 331kg. England‘s Chris Murray secured the bronze medal with a total lift of 325kg.
A Legacy of Weightlifting
Kondavelagada, Ajaya Babu’s village, is known for its strong weightlifting tradition. It has produced approximately 20 international and 40 national weightlifters, a significant number given its population of around 3,000. Valluri Srinivasa Rao, Ajaya Babu’s father, was a pioneer in this tradition, having won multiple national championships and the bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the 56kg category.
Srinivasa Rao, a former international lifter who also works in flower cultivation, initially had different aspirations for his elder son, Ajaya Babu. He had considered sending him to Pullela Gopichand‘s badminton academy in Hyderabad. However, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred that he stay closer to home, leading both Ajaya and his younger brother Akhil to grow up immersed in the village’s weightlifting environment, eventually pursuing the sport professionally.
Srinivasa Rao expressed a desire for his son to win gold, having missed out on it himself due to a hamstring injury before the 2010 Games, which he believed hampered his performance and led to his bronze medal in the 56kg division.
The Pulsating Final
The competition in Glasgow was intense, with Ajaya Babu facing strong contenders such as Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who had previously won silver in the 73kg category at the 2022 edition, and Chris Murray. The Malaysian lifter, like Ajaya Babu, was also aiming to follow in his father’s footsteps, as his father Hidayat Hamidon won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Ajaya Babu began the snatch section by successfully lifting 145kg, which set a new Games record. He then improved this to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the Games record and placing him at the top of the standings after the snatch discipline. Murray was second with a best lift of 148kg, while Muhammad secured 147kg on his final attempt after two earlier failures.
The clean and jerk section saw a tactical battle unfold. Muhammad took the lead with a lift of 177kg in his first attempt, while Ajaya Babu lifted 174kg. Muhammad then lifted 181kg, and Ajaya Babu responded with 178kg. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu successfully heaved 181kg, briefly taking the lead with a record total of 330kg. However, Muhammad secured the gold by successfully lifting 184kg on his ultimate attempt, achieving a winning total of 331kg.
Ajaya Babu’s path to Glasgow included winning gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad with a lifetime best total of 335kg. He also achieved a double gold sweep in both junior and senior categories at the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Fiji.
India’s weightlifting medalists at the 2026 Commonwealth Games include:
- Mirabai Chanu — Gold (Women’s 48kg)
- Valluri Ajaya Babu — Silver (Men’s 79kg)
- Gyaneshwari Yadav — Silver (Women’s 53kg)
- Chanambam Rishikanta Singh — Silver (Men’s 60kg)
- Muthupandi Raja — Silver (Men’s 65kg)
- Bindyarani Devi — Bronze (Women’s 58kg)
Ajaya Babu’s silver medal performance in Glasgow not only contributes to India’s weightlifting success but also enhances a family legacy that spans two generations.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter