Amit Shah hails Valluri Ajaya Babu's CWG2026 silver

Key Takeaways

Valluri Ajaya Babu won the silver medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at CWG2026 .

Union Home Minister Amit Shah publicly congratulated the athlete on July 28, 2026 .

Shah described the performance as 'remarkable' and said it would 'inspire the new generation.' Weightlifting has historically been a strong medal-producing discipline for India at the Commonwealth Games.

The Khelo India programme , launched in 2017 , underpins India's grassroots sports talent pipeline.

India's final medal tally at CWG2026 remains in progress as other events continue.

A weightlifter from India just added precious metal to the nation's Commonwealth Games account. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, congratulated Valluri Ajaya Babu for winning the silver medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at #CWG2026, calling the performance 'remarkable' and one that will 'inspire the new generation.'

Shah posted on X: 'Weightlifting swells India's medal tally! Proud of you Valluri Ajaya Babu. Your remarkable performance winning the Silver Medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at #CWG2026 reflects your dedication and will inspire the new generation.'

Valluri Ajaya Babu's silver on the platform

Weightlifting has long been a reliable source of medals for India at the Commonwealth Games, and Ajaya Babu's silver in the 79kg category continues that tradition. The discipline demands both explosive power and technical precision — a combination the young lifter put on display to finish second among athletes from across the Commonwealth.

Khelo India's long game bearing fruit

India's improving depth in weightlifting is no accident. The Khelo India programme, launched in 2017, was designed to identify and nurture grassroots sporting talent across the country. Athletes like Ajaya Babu represent exactly the pipeline that initiative set out to build — competitive at the international level and capable of standing on a podium against the world's best. With events still to come at CWG2026, all eyes now turn to India's final medal tally and whether the weightlifting squad can add more colour to the count.

Point of View

Signalling that athletic achievement is now political priority territory. Shah's shout-out to Ajaya Babu fits a pattern where the government uses Commonwealth Games podium moments to reinforce the Khelo India narrative of grassroots talent rising to global stages. The 79kg silver also underscores weightlifting's enduring role as a bankable medal discipline for India — a fact that shapes where sports funding and attention continue to flow. Whether CWG2026 marks a new high-water mark for India's overall tally will shape the post-Games policy conversation around athlete support.

NationPress

28 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Valluri Ajaya Babu?

Valluri Ajaya Babu is an Indian weightlifter who competed in the Men's 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal.

What did Valluri Ajaya Babu win at CWG2026?

He won the silver medal in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at CWG2026.

Why did Amit Shah congratulate Valluri Ajaya Babu?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X to celebrate Ajaya Babu's silver medal at CWG2026, calling the performance remarkable and an inspiration for the next generation.

What is the Khelo India programme?

Khelo India is a government initiative launched in 2017 aimed at promoting grassroots sports development and building a pipeline of competitive athletes across India.

How is India performing in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games?

Weightlifting has historically been one of India's strongest medal-producing disciplines at the Commonwealth Games, and Ajaya Babu's silver at CWG2026 continues that trend.