CM Naidu Hails Ajaya Babu's CWG 2026 Silver in Weightlifting
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning silver in the Men's 79kg event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, highlighting his legacy as the son of CWG bronze medallist Valluri Srinivasa Rao.
Key Takeaways
Valluri Ajaya Babu won the Silver Medal in Men's 79kg Weightlifting at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games .
His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao , is a former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in weightlifting.
Andhra Pradesh CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu publicly congratulated Ajaya Babu on 28 July 2026 .
Naidu described the achievement as making both Andhra Pradesh and the nation proud.
The result continues India's strong tradition of weightlifting medals at the Commonwealth Games.
A weightlifting legacy forged in Andhra Pradesh just added another chapter on the global stage. Valluri Ajaya Babu clinched the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games — and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was quick to mark the moment, calling it a source of pride for both the state and the nation.
What makes Ajaya Babu's silver especially resonant is where it comes from. His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, is himself a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist — a rare instance of a sporting family carrying the same discipline, the same grit, across two generations onto the same international stage.
A Family Built on the Barbell
Naidu noted that Ajaya Babu has 'followed in the footsteps of his father' and 'carried forward a proud sporting legacy with great dedication.' That framing is more than ceremonial. In Indian sport, where infrastructure and institutional support for weightlifting remain uneven, family lineage often doubles as coaching, motivation, and institutional memory rolled into one.
Andhra Pradesh has a track record of producing competitive athletes in strength sports, and a silver at a Commonwealth Games is the kind of result that tends to sharpen state-level attention on sports infrastructure — particularly in disciplines that don't always command the spotlight.
Weightlifting's Quiet Strength at the Commonwealth Games
Weightlifting has long been one of India's more reliable medal disciplines at the Commonwealth Games, with athletes from smaller states and less-publicised training setups repeatedly punching above their weight. Ajaya Babu's silver at Glasgow 2026 fits that pattern — and extends it into a new generation.
Naidu closed with a pointed wish: 'May he continue to lift India's sporting excellence on the global stage.' For a young weightlifter with a champion's bloodline and a Commonwealth medal already around his neck, that bar just got set higher — and he's the one who raised it.
Point of View
The spotlight on a two-generation weightlifting family from Andhra Pradesh could translate into real pressure on the state sports authority to invest in infrastructure for strength disciplines. India's Commonwealth Games weightlifting pipeline has historically relied on grassroots talent from smaller states, and moments like this tend to briefly open budgetary conversations. Whether that momentum converts into sustained policy action is the real story to watch.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Valluri Ajaya Babu?
Valluri Ajaya Babu is an Indian weightlifter from Andhra Pradesh who won the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. He is the son of former Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Valluri Srinivasa Rao.
What medal did India win in weightlifting at CWG 2026?
India's Valluri Ajaya Babu won a Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Who is Valluri Srinivasa Rao?
Valluri Srinivasa Rao is a former Indian weightlifter and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and the father of CWG 2026 silver medallist Valluri Ajaya Babu.
What did CM Chandrababu Naidu say about CWG 2026?
Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu congratulated Valluri Ajaya Babu on his silver medal, saying the achievement has made Andhra Pradesh and the nation proud and called on him to continue lifting India's sporting excellence globally.
Where are the 2026 Commonwealth Games being held?
The 2026 Commonwealth Games are being held in Glasgow, Scotland.
