Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 congratulated Khelo India athlete Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the silver medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games, noting that the lifter also set a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch en route to a 330 kg total lift.

Posting on X, the Minister wrote: 'Sheer strength on show! Many congratulations to Khelo India athlete Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting. With a total lift of 330kg, he also set a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch. A memorable performance and another proud moment for Bharat.'

Context

Valluri Ajaya Babu's silver-medal finish adds to India's growing tally at the Commonwealth Games. The athlete's performance in the Snatch discipline was particularly notable, as it surpassed the previous Commonwealth Games record in the category. A total lift of 330 kg across the Snatch and Clean-and-Jerk disciplines placed him on the podium in the 79 kg weight class.

Minister Mandaviya's public acknowledgement identified Babu specifically as a Khelo India athlete, underlining the scheme's direct role in producing competitive international-level performers.

Policy Backdrop

The Khelo India scheme was launched in 2017 to build a national talent pipeline across Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines, providing selected athletes with financial support, coaching, and access to high-performance infrastructure. Weightlifting has been one of the disciplines receiving structured backing under both Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).

Successive governments have scaled up targeted funding for priority sports with the explicit goal of improving India's medal tallies at multi-nation events. Ministerial social-media recognition of individual performances has become a consistent part of that public-communication strategy, reinforcing the narrative that state investment in grassroots sport yields measurable results on the international stage.

Stakeholders and Impact

For young weightlifters and aspiring athletes across India, a Commonwealth Games record by a Khelo India beneficiary serves as a visible validation of the scheme's talent-identification and support model. Coaches, state sports academies, and the Weightlifting Federation of India are among the institutional stakeholders who stand to benefit from the heightened visibility such performances generate.

The result also carries significance for the broader sports ecosystem: Commonwealth Games medals in weightlifting have historically helped secure enhanced funding allocations and coaching resources in subsequent budget cycles.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to the selection and preparation of Indian weightlifters for the next major international cycle, including any revisions to Khelo India funding norms expected in the upcoming Union Budget. Babu's record-setting performance is likely to strengthen the case for continued — and potentially expanded — state support for the discipline.

With India's sports ministry under Mansukh Mandaviya maintaining a high-profile communications posture around athlete achievements, further announcements on training grants or infrastructure upgrades for weightlifting cannot be ruled out in the weeks ahead.