Vizianagaram weightlifter Ajaya Babu clinches silver at Commonwealth Games
Ajaya Babu’s Commonwealth Games Performance
Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included setting a new Games record in the snatch event. This achievement marks a significant moment for the athlete, who narrowly missed out on a gold medal.
During the competition, Ajaya Babu achieved a best snatch lift of 149kg and a clean and jerk of 181kg, culminating in a total lift of 330kg. This total was just 1kg shy of the gold medal winner, Erry Hidayat Muhammad of Malaysia, who finished with 331kg. England’s Chris Murray took the bronze medal with a total of 325kg.
Ajaya Babu’s journey to the silver medal included a strong start in the snatch section. He began with a successful lift of 145kg, which initially set a Games record. After a failed second attempt at 149kg, he successfully lifted the weight in his final try, re-establishing the Games record for snatch. At the end of the snatch section, Ajaya Babu was in the lead, followed by Chris Murray with 148kg and Erry Hidayat Muhammad with 147kg.
The clean and jerk section saw a shift in the standings. Erry Hidayat Muhammad took the lead early with a lift of 177kg. Ajaya Babu responded with 174kg and later 178kg. In his final attempt, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg, but Erry Hidayat Muhammad secured the gold by successfully lifting 184kg in his final attempt, surpassing Ajaya Babu by the narrowest of margins.
Family Legacy and Sporting Background
Ajaya Babu’s silver medal performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games surpasses the achievement of his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao. Srinivasa Rao, a multiple national champion in weightlifting, earned a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi in the 56kg category. His father had aimed for gold in 2010 but sustained a hamstring injury a month before the Games, which affected his performance.
The village of Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram district, where the family hails from, has a rich history in weightlifting. With a population of approximately 3,000, the village has produced around 20 international and about 40 national weightlifters. Srinivasa Rao is considered a pioneer in this tradition.
Despite his father’s success in weightlifting, there was an initial suggestion for Ajaya Babu to pursue badminton. Pullela Gopichand, a friend of Srinivasa Rao, had invited Ajaya Babu to his Hyderabad academy. However, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred that he remain closer to home due to his young age. This decision led Ajaya Babu and his younger brother, Akhil, to grow up immersed in the weightlifting environment of their village, eventually leading them to pursue the sport professionally.
Path to Glasgow and Future Prospects
Ajaya Babu’s silver medal is India’s sixth in weightlifting at the current Commonwealth Games. His strong track record includes previous successes at the Commonwealth Championships. He won a gold medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad, where he achieved a personal-best total lift of 335kg, comprising a 152kg snatch and 183kg clean and jerk. This performance also broke championship records.
The gold medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships secured his direct qualification spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Before that, in the 2024 Commonwealth Championships held in Suva, Fiji, he earned double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. Additionally, he placed 16th overall among 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.
The competition in Glasgow was intense, featuring seasoned lifters such as Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who had previously won silver in the 73kg category at the 2022 edition, Canada’s Shad Darsigny, and England’s Chris Murray. Erry Hidayat Muhammad was also pursuing a family legacy, as his father, Hidayat Hamidon, won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Ajaya Babu’s performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games highlights his growing stature in Indian weightlifting, building on a foundation laid by his family and community in Kondavelagada.
Source: newindianexpress.com
