Valluri Ajaya Babu won the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow [1, 2].

The achievement marks a significant milestone for Indian weightlifting, combining a historic record-breaking lift with a podium finish at a major international multi-sport event.

Babu competed on July 27, 2026 [5], during the fifth day of the Games [3]. During the competition, he successfully lifted 149 kg in the snatch [2, 3]. This lift established a new Commonwealth Games record for the category [3].

Despite the record-breaking performance in the snatch, Babu finished with the silver medal [1, 2]. The gold medal went to Erry Hidayat Muhammad of Malaysia, who achieved a total lift of 331 kg [1, 4]. Babu's total lift was lower than that of the Malaysian athlete, placing him second in the final standings [4].

The event took place in Glasgow, Scotland [6], as part of the broader 2026 Commonwealth Games schedule. Babu's performance contributed to India's overall medal tally in the weightlifting discipline during the Glasgow games [2, 3].

The competition highlights the high level of rivalry in the 79 kg class, where individual records do not always guarantee the top spot on the podium. While Babu dominated the snatch portion of the event, the total weight lifted across both the snatch and the clean and jerk determines the final ranking [1, 4].

“Valluri Ajaya Babu won the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event”

Babu's silver medal and new Games record underscore India's growing competitiveness in specific weight classes. While the gold medal remained with Malaysia due to the total lift requirement, setting a record in the snatch demonstrates a peak in technical strength that can be leveraged for future gold-medal pursuits in upcoming international cycles.