Vizianagaram weightlifter Ajaya Babu clinches silver at Commonwealth Games
Ajaya Babu’s Commonwealth Games Performance
Valluri Ajaya Babu, a weightlifter from Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. His performance included a Games record lift of 149kg in the snatch, alongside an 181kg lift in the clean and jerk, culminating in a total of 330kg. This achievement marks India’s sixth weightlifting medal at the current Commonwealth Games.
Ajaya Babu narrowly missed the gold medal, falling short by just 1kg to Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, who achieved a total of 331kg. England’s Chris Murray earned the bronze medal with a total of 325kg.
A Family Legacy in Weightlifting
Ajaya Babu’s silver medal surpasses the Commonwealth Games achievement of his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, who won a bronze medal in the 56kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Srinivasa Rao, a multiple-time national champion, had hoped for his son to win gold.
The village of Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram has a notable history of producing weightlifters, with approximately 20 international and 40 national lifters emerging from its population of around 3,000. Srinivasa Rao, a pioneer from the village, initially considered a different path for his elder son, Ajaya Babu, suggesting badminton at Pullela Gopichand’s Hyderabad academy. However, his wife preferred their son to stay closer to home.
This decision led Ajaya Babu and his younger brother, Akhil, to follow in their father’s footsteps, developing an interest in weightlifting from a young age.
The Thrilling Competition
The competition in Glasgow was intense, featuring strong contenders like Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad, Canada’s Shad Darsigny, and England’s Chris Murray. Erry Hidayat Muhammad, whose father, Hidayat Hamidon, won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, was also aiming to replicate his father’s success.
In the snatch section, Ajaya Babu began with a 145kg lift, establishing a Games record. He later improved this to 149kg in his final attempt, setting a new Games record. Chris Murray was second in the snatch with 148kg, while Erry Hidayat Muhammad, after struggling with his initial attempts, secured 147kg in his final try.
The clean and jerk section saw a shift in momentum. Erry Hidayat Muhammad took the lead with a 177kg lift, followed by Ajaya Babu’s 174kg. Erry then lifted 181kg, while Ajaya Babu completed a 178kg lift. In their final attempts, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg, but Erry Hidayat Muhammad successfully lifted 184kg, securing the gold medal by a narrow margin.
Ajaya Babu’s Promising Career
Ajaya Babu’s career trajectory includes previous successes, such as winning gold in the men’s 79kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad. During that event, he achieved a personal-best total lift of 335kg, comprising 152kg in snatch and 183kg in clean and jerk, breaking championship records and securing his qualification for Glasgow 2026.
In the 2024 Commonwealth Championships in Suva, Fiji, he earned double gold medals in both junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. Furthermore, he placed 16th overall among 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.
Ajaya Babu, at 21 years old, has established himself as a rapidly developing lifter for India.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Priya Menon 