Indian weightlifters Valluri Ajaya Babu and Muthupandi Raja returned to New Delhi on Sunday after their medal-winning performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, expressing satisfaction with their achievements while setting their sights on future international competitions. Ajaya Babu, who won the silver medal in the men's 79kg category, said he was pleased with his performance despite narrowly missing the gold medal by just one kilogram. The athletes received a warm welcome upon their arrival, reflecting the recognition of India's successful weightlifting campaign.
Speaking after his return, Ajaya Babu said he was encouraged by his performance at the Commonwealth Games but admitted that falling short of the top podium by such a narrow margin was disappointing. He said missing the gold medal by only one kilogram would motivate him to work even harder in the future. Looking ahead, the weightlifter revealed that his immediate focus would be on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and preparing for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
Muthupandi Raja, who secured the silver medal in the men's 65kg category, described the achievement as a memorable milestone in his career, noting that it was his first international medal. Although he had hoped to win gold, Raja said he was proud of his performance and viewed the silver medal as a strong foundation for future success. He also thanked supporters for the warm reception upon his return, saying the encouragement from fans would inspire him to perform better in upcoming competitions.
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The medal winners also outlined their future plans, with Raja confirming that he would soon begin preparations for the qualification events leading to the 2028 Olympic Games. He said he would work closely with his coach to improve his performances and build on the experience gained at the Commonwealth Games. The athletes emphasised that the Glasgow campaign had provided valuable lessons that would help them compete more effectively on the international stage.
Other Indian weightlifters also reflected positively on their performances in Glasgow. Harjinder Kaur, who claimed silver in the women's 69kg category, said she was happy to have improved on her bronze medal from the previous Commonwealth Games and hoped to continue progressing in future tournaments. Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam, who secured bronze in the women's 58kg event, expressed gratitude for the support she received and pledged to deliver stronger performances in upcoming competitions.
India enjoyed an impressive campaign in weightlifting at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Mirabai Chanu winning gold in the women's 48kg category. Silver medals were won by Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Rishikanta Singh (60kg), Muthupandi Raja (65kg), Valluri Ajaya Babu (79kg) and Lovepreet Singh (110kg), while Bindyarani Devi added a bronze in the women's 58kg category. The strong medal haul underlined India's continued strength in weightlifting and reinforced the country's ambitions ahead of future international events, including the Los Angeles Olympics.
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