Mandaviya Hails Harjinder Kaur's Silver at CWG 2026
Synopsis
Harjinder Kaur claimed silver in the Women's 69kg Weightlifting event at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Victoria, Australia. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised her performance, continuing India's strong Commonwealth Games weightlifting tradition backed by the TOPS scheme.
Key Takeaways
Harjinder Kaur won the silver medal in the Women's 69kg Weightlifting event at Commonwealth Games 2026 .
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated Kaur on X on 29 July 2026 .
The Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Victoria, Australia .
India's weightlifters have been consistent medal contributors at Commonwealth Games since 2010 .
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 , provides targeted support to elite Indian weightlifters.
A silver medal and a roar for India. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated weightlifter Harjinder Kaur on winning the silver medal in the Women's 69kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026, calling the performance a display of 'power and passion.'
Harjinder Kaur's 69kg Silver at CWG 2026
Harjinder Kaur has been one of India's consistent performers on the Commonwealth weightlifting circuit. India's women weightlifters have delivered medals at successive Commonwealth Games editions since 2010, and Kaur's silver in the 69kg category continues that tradition on the biggest stage the Games offer. Mandaviya posted on X under the hashtags #Cheer4Bharat and #CWG2026, channelling the government's broader push to amplify athlete achievements in real time and build public investment in Indian sport.TOPS and India's Weightlifting Pipeline
Behind every podium finish is a support structure. India's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 and expanded since, has provided elite weightlifters with targeted financial assistance, foreign exposure, and coaching access. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports — which Mandaviya now heads — has used TOPS as its primary instrument to convert raw talent into medal-ready athletes at multi-sport events like the Commonwealth Games. Weightlifting has long punched above its weight for India at the Games, and the 69kg women's category has been a productive hunting ground for the national contingent. As India's medal count at CWG 2026 in Victoria, Australia builds, Harjinder Kaur's silver adds another line to a discipline that has rarely let the country down.Point of View
Building a narrative of government investment in sport paying off. Weightlifting's consistent medal returns at the Commonwealth Games give the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports a reliable showcase for the TOPS framework. For Mandaviya, a minister who oversees both labour and sports, each podium finish is also a soft argument that elite athlete support — and the ministry's stewardship of it — is working. Harjinder Kaur's silver in the 69kg category will likely feature in any post-Games review of TOPS outcomes.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Harjinder Kaur?
Harjinder Kaur is an Indian weightlifter who competes in the Women's 69kg category at international events, including the Commonwealth Games.
What medal did Harjinder Kaur win at CWG 2026?
Harjinder Kaur won the silver medal in the Women's 69kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Victoria, Australia.
Where are the Commonwealth Games 2026 being held?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 are being held in Victoria, Australia.
What is the TOPS scheme?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) is an Indian government programme launched in 2014 that provides financial assistance, coaching, and foreign exposure to elite athletes, including weightlifters, to help them win medals at top international events.
How has India performed in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games?
India has been a consistent medal-winning nation in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games since 2010, with women's events being a particularly strong category for the country.
