CM Nayab Saini congratulates Valluri Ajay Babu on CWG 2026 silver

Key Takeaways

Valluri Ajay Babu won the silver medal in men's 79 kg weightlifting at Commonwealth Games 2026 .

The Games are being held in Victoria, Australia .

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated Ajay Babu on 28 July 2026 via X.

Saini credited the achievement to the athlete's 'hard work, unwavering dedication, and firm resolve.' Haryana has a strong tradition of producing and recognising international sporting talent.

A weightlifter from India has stepped onto the Commonwealth Games podium, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to mark the moment. On Tuesday, 28 July 2026, Saini took to X to extend warm congratulations to Valluri Ajay Babu for clinching the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Saini wrote, 'कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स 2026 में पुरुषों की 79 किलोग्राम वेटलिफ्टिंग स्पर्धा में रजत पदक अपने नाम करने पर वल्लुरी अजय बाबू जी को हार्दिक बधाई एवं अनंत शुभकामनाएँ।' — 'Heartiest congratulations and endless best wishes to Valluri Ajay Babu on winning the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at Commonwealth Games 2026.' The Chief Minister added that this 'unprecedented success' was the 'happy result of hard work, unwavering dedication, and firm resolve' — a performance that had raised India's flag on the global stage.

Valluri Ajay Babu's silver on the world stage

The men's 79 kg weightlifting category is one of the more fiercely contested weight classes at the Commonwealth Games, drawing competitors from across the Pacific, Africa, and South Asia. Ajay Babu's silver marks a significant individual achievement, placing him among the top two lifters in his category across all Commonwealth nations competing at Victoria, Australia, where the 2026 Games are being held.

Haryana's tradition of backing its athletes

Haryana punches well above its weight in Indian sport — a state that has consistently produced Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallists across wrestling, boxing, and athletics. Chief ministers of the state have made a practice of publicly recognising athletic success, and Saini's message follows that tradition. Such acknowledgements, while ceremonial in nature, form part of a broader culture of state-level visibility for individual champions — a signal to young athletes that podium finishes are noticed at the highest level of government. For Valluri Ajay Babu, the silver at CWG 2026 is a moment that lands on a very public stage. The kicker: the real question now is whether a state honour or enhanced training support follows the congratulations.

Point of View

High-visibility form of soft governance. Saini's message fits a well-worn pattern in Haryana, a state whose sporting identity is central to its political brand. The congratulation carries no new policy commitment, but it keeps the CM visible in a news cycle dominated by Games results. The broader arc to watch is whether such public recognition translates into tangible athlete-support measures in the state's next budget or sports policy cycle.

NationPress

28 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Valluri Ajay Babu?

Valluri Ajay Babu is an Indian weightlifter who won the silver medal in the men's 79 kg category 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.

Why did CM Nayab Saini congratulate Valluri Ajay Babu?

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated Valluri Ajay Babu for winning the silver medal in men's 79 kg weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2026, praising his hard work and dedication.

What event did India win a silver medal in at CWG 2026?

India won a silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Who is Nayab Singh Saini?

Nayab Singh Saini is the Chief Minister of Haryana and a BJP leader who assumed office in 2024.