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 a Games record lift of 149kg in the snatch discipline and 181kg in the clean and jerk, culminating in a total lift of 330kg. This achievement marks India’s sixth weightlifting medal at the current Commonwealth Games.
The competition for the gold medal was intense, with Ajaya Babu narrowly missing out 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 performance surpasses the Commonwealth Games achievement of his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, who won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Rao, a multiple-time national champion in weightlifting, had hoped for his son to win gold, especially after his own bid for gold in 2010 was hampered by a hamstring injury a month before the event.
The family’s village, Kondavelagada in Vizianagaram district, has a notable history in weightlifting, having produced approximately 20 international and around 40 national weightlifters. Valluri Srinivasa Rao is considered a pioneer in this tradition within the village, which has a population of about 3,000.
Despite Rao’s close friend, Pullela Gopichand, suggesting Ajaya Babu pursue badminton at his Hyderabad academy, Ajaya Babu’s mother preferred for him to stay closer to home. This decision led Ajaya Babu and his younger brother, Akhil, to grow up immersed in the sport, observing their father and others training daily.
The Thrilling Contest and Record-Setting Lifts
The men’s 79kg weightlifting event was a gripping contest. Ajaya Babu began the snatch section strongly, lifting 145kg in his first attempt and setting a Games record. He then improved his performance to 149kg in his final attempt, further rewriting the Games record for the snatch.
His closest rival, Erry Hidayat Muhammad, initially struggled with a 147kg lift, only succeeding on his third attempt to remain in medal contention. After the snatch section, Ajaya Babu led, followed by Chris Murray with 148kg and Erry Hidayat Muhammad with 147kg.
The clean and jerk section saw a shift in momentum. Erry Hidayat Muhammad took an early lead by lifting 177kg. Ajaya Babu responded with 174kg and then 178kg. In a dramatic finish, Ajaya Babu lifted 181kg in his final attempt, but Erry Hidayat Muhammad successfully lifted 184kg, securing the gold medal by a narrow margin.
A Promising Career Trajectory
Ajaya Babu, at 21 years old, has a strong track record in weightlifting. He previously won gold medals at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad in the men’s 79kg category, achieving a personal-best total lift of 335kg (152kg snatch + 183kg clean & jerk). This performance also broke championship records and earned him direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In the 2024 Commonwealth Championships held in Suva, Fiji, he secured double gold medals in both the junior and senior divisions of the men’s 81kg category. Following these successes, he placed 16th overall among 39 lifters at the 2025 World Championships in Forde, Norway.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
