Indian weightlifter Raja Muthupandi win a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 being held in Glasgow. Raja lifted a total of 286kg together in the snatch and clean & jerk events to end in second place behind Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed of Malaysia, who took the gold with the Games record finish among other impressive victories on this day of Indian weightlifting.
Raja Muthupandi Bags Silver in Men’s 65kg Weightlifting Event
Raja Muthupandi fought hard in one of the most competitive events of the games to clinch a silver medal.
Muthupandi lifted a total of 286kg, finishing second only to Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed of Malaysia, who set a new Commonwealth Games record after lifting 299kg to win the gold medal.
Morea Baru of Papua New Guinea took the bronze, as he failed to surpass Muthupandi in his last clean & jerk attempt.
With this silver medal, India’s weightlifting campaign at the Commonwealth Games reached another landmark.
A Nail-Biting Contest for the Podium
The men’s 65kg competition saw thrilling rivalry in both events.
Snatch Event
- Raja started poorly with a failed attempt but recovered quickly.
- He succeeded in lifting 126kg and continued to contend for a medal amidst strong competition.
- Malaysia’s Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed took an early lead by lifting 130kg and 133kg and appeared likely to win the gold.
Clean and Jerk Event
- The clean and jerk event created a dramatic end.
- Raja had a failed attempt at lifting 158kg but confidently bumped the weight to 160kg and completed the lift, setting the Commonwealth Games record temporarily.
- Aznil, however, managed to achieve 162kg and 166kg lifts, thus winning the gold while Raja had to try for 170kg in order to win.
Although he wasn’t successful, Raja managed to retain his silver medal safely since Morea Baru’s last attempt was unsuccessful.
The Winners in the Men’s 65kg Weightlifting Championship
According to the final results,
- Gold – Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed (Malaysia)
- Silver – Raja Muthupandi (India)
- Bronze – Morea Beru (Papua New Guinea)
Raja Muthupandi’s medal win contributes to India’s weightlifting medal tally.
An Extraordinary Comeback Story
Raja Muthupandi’s silver medal is the result of years of hard work and determination.
His career began with,
- Gold and silver medals at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth and Junior Championship
- National championships in 2019 and 2022
- However, his bright future was crushed at the 2019 Commonwealth Championships when he injured a ligament in his right elbow during the snatch event.
- The injury needed surgical procedures, which kept him out of the sport for long.
- Even though he returned to competition in 2021, his chance of selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games also came down to mere luck.
Despite these obstacles, he chose not to surrender, instead worked to regain his position in the sport.
India’s Weightlifting Success
At the Commonwealth Games, the sport of weightlifting has consistently shown India to be among the strongest in the event.
Moreover,
- Mirabai Chanu claimed India’s first gold medal at the competition.
- Rishikanta Singh earned silver medal.
- Raja Muthupandi won silver in men’s 65kg.
These results highlight the fact that weightlifting is one of India’s dominant sports.
The Indian squad is poised for even more success, as Bindyarani Devi, Valluri Ajaya Babu, and Gyaneshwari Yadav prepare to compete.
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