Ajaya Babu Secures Silver in Glasgow
Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg weightlifting category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included a Games record in the snatch discipline. This achievement marks a significant moment for Ajaya Babu, as he surpassed his father’s previous Commonwealth Games showing.
Ajaya Babu’s total lift for the event was 330kg, comprising a 149kg snatch and a 181kg clean and jerk. He narrowly missed the gold medal by just 1kg to Erry Hidayat Muhammad of Malaysia, who achieved a total of 331kg. England’s Chris Murray took the bronze medal with a total of 325kg.
The competition on Monday night was described as gripping, with Ajaya Babu initially setting a Games record in the snatch section. He began with a successful lift of 145kg, then improved to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the record. Following the snatch section, Ajaya Babu led the field, with Murray in second place at 148kg and Muhammad in third at 147kg.
A Legacy of Weightlifting and Family Aspirations
Ajaya Babu’s success continues a strong tradition of weightlifting in his family and village. His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, was a multiple-time national champion and won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in the 56kg category. Srinivasa Rao’s village, Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram, has produced approximately 20 international and around 40 national weightlifters from a population of about 3,000, with Rao considered a pioneer in the sport there.
Despite his father’s background in weightlifting, there was an initial consideration for Ajaya Babu to pursue badminton. Srinivasa Rao, who also coaches weightlifters in his village and at the Indian Army, mentioned that Pullela Gopichand, a friend, had invited Ajaya Babu to his Hyderabad academy. However, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred that he not move to Hyderabad at a young age.
This decision meant Ajaya Babu and his younger brother Akhil grew up immersed in the weightlifting environment of their village, eventually choosing to pursue the sport professionally. Ajaya Babu’s silver medal performance eight years after his father’s retirement represents a significant achievement, surpassing his father’s bronze medal.
The Thrilling Contest and Future Prospects
The clean and jerk section saw intense competition. Muhammad took the lead with a lift of 177kg, followed by Ajaya Babu’s 174kg. Muhammad then lifted 181kg, while Ajaya Babu completed a 178kg lift. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg, but Muhammad successfully lifted 184kg, securing the gold medal by a narrow margin.
This silver medal is India’s sixth in weightlifting at the current Commonwealth Games. Ajaya Babu, who is 21 years old, has a notable track record, including gold medals at previous Commonwealth Championships. He won gold in the men’s 79kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, achieving a personal-best total lift of 335kg (152kg snatch + 183kg clean & jerk) and breaking championship records. This performance earned him direct qualification for Glasgow 2026.
In the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Suva, Fiji, he secured double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. Following these successes, he placed 16th overall among 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway. His recent silver medal in Glasgow further highlights his promising future in Indian weightlifting.
Source: newindianexpress.com
