Rishikanta Singh Chanambam of India clinched a silver medal in the men's 71kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Sunday, 26 July, finishing with a combined total of 264kg and setting a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch. The Manipur-born lifter dedicated his podium finish to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire nation, crediting government support as a driving force behind his campaign.

A Record-Breaking Snatch Performance

Rishikanta opened his campaign with a commanding snatch phase, successfully lifting 116kg and then 119kg before audaciously requesting 121kg on his final snatch attempt under intense pressure. He cleared it — surpassing the previous 120kg Commonwealth Games snatch record and briefly moving ahead of eventual gold medallist Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan of Malaysia, who subsequently matched the mark.

The lift announced Rishikanta as a genuine gold contender and underlined the technical progress India's weightlifting programme has made in recent years.

Clean and Jerk: So Close to Gold

The Indian began the clean and jerk phase with a successful 143kg lift before failing his second attempt at 148kg. With gold still mathematically within reach, he called for a bold 151kg on his final attempt, completing the clean but falling short in the jerk portion. The miss sealed his total at 264kg.

Meanwhile, Aniq went on to claim gold with a Games-record total of 273kg, including a decisive 152kg clean and jerk. Kenya's Joshua Amunga Mboya completed the podium with 260kg. This was India's first medal of Day 4 at the Glasgow Games.

Rishikanta's Dedication: 'This Medal Belongs to All of India'

Speaking after his podium finish, Rishikanta was emphatic that the medal transcended personal achievement. 'I dedicate this silver medal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire nation,' he said. 'I fought very hard, and today I won a silver medal. I am very happy. This medal that I won today isn't mine; it belongs to everyone, to all of India. To everyone who supported — the Indian Government, the Indian Weightlifting Federation, the supporting staff, and my circle of friends... this is for everyone.'

He also paid tribute to his coach, Vijay Sharma, the Indian Chief Coach, who guided his preparation. 'He taught us a lot about how to compete and how to train. I had no doubts about my training. I was completely focused,' Rishikanta said, adding that he credits Prime Minister Modi's policy support for the tangible benefits Indian athletes now receive.

What This Medal Means for Indian Weightlifting

Rishikanta's silver adds to a growing haul for Indian weightlifters at Commonwealth Games, a discipline where the country has historically punched above its weight. The Commonwealth Games record snatch — achieved under final-attempt pressure — signals a maturation in Indian lifting technique. Notably, Manipur continues to produce elite combat and strength athletes, reflecting the state's deep sporting culture and infrastructure investment.

With the Games still ongoing in Glasgow, India's athletics and combat sports contingent will look to build on this momentum in the days ahead.