Shekhawat Hails Ajay Babu's CWG 2026 Silver and Record Snatch
Synopsis
Valluri Ajay Babu won silver in men's 79 kg weightlifting at Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, setting a new Games record in the snatch. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat hailed the feat as historic on X.
Key Takeaways
Valluri Ajay Babu claimed the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 .
Ajay Babu set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch discipline during the competition.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat congratulated Ajay Babu on X (formerly Twitter) on July 28, 2026 .
The minister described the achievement as 'all the more historic' owing to the record-breaking snatch lift.
India has a strong tradition in Commonwealth Games weightlifting, with medals across multiple editions.
A new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch, and a silver medal to go with it — Valluri Ajay Babu delivered a historic performance in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, drawing congratulations from Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.
Shekhawat posted on X, writing: 'Rashtramandal Khel Glasgow 2026 ki purush 79 kg bharottolan spardhaa mein rajat padak jeetne par Valluri Ajay Babu ko bahut-bahut badhai!' — 'Heartiest congratulations to Valluri Ajay Babu on winning the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026!' The minister specifically highlighted that Ajay Babu's snatch lift set a new Commonwealth Games record, calling the achievement 'all the more historic.'
A Record That Rewrites the Books
Setting a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch discipline elevates Ajay Babu's silver beyond a podium finish — it plants an Indian mark in the record books of the Games. Weightlifting has been one of India's most consistent medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games, with the country building a strong tradition across multiple editions. A record-breaking lift in Glasgow continues that lineage at the highest level.
Shekhawat and India's Sports Moment
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, used the hashtags #CWG2026, #Cheer4Bharat, and #Glasgow2026 — signals of the government's active social media presence around the Indian contingent's performance. Senior ministers routinely amplify individual athlete results at multi-sport events, part of a broader push to spotlight sporting achievement under India's national sports policy framework.
For Valluri Ajay Babu, the silver and the record are the story. Glasgow has delivered India another landmark moment on the weightlifting platform.
Point of View
But the substance behind it is not routine — a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch marks a genuine athletic milestone, not just a podium finish. Weightlifting has long been a reliable medal source for India at the Commonwealth Games, and a record-breaking performance at Glasgow 2026 reinforces that pipeline. The government's reflexive social media engagement with individual athlete results reflects a deliberate strategy to build a sports-positive political identity, particularly ahead of future multi-sport bids and policy discussions around athlete support.
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 event at Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026, setting a new Games record in the snatch discipline.
What did Valluri Ajay Babu achieve at CWG 2026?
He won a silver medal in men's 79 kg weightlifting at CWG Glasgow 2026 and set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch.
What is the Commonwealth Games snatch record set at Glasgow 2026?
Valluri Ajay Babu set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch during the men's 79 kg weightlifting event at Glasgow 2026. The specific weight lifted was not detailed in the available information.
Who is Gajendra Singh Shekhawat?
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is India's Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, a senior BJP leader, and Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
How has India performed in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games?
India has a strong weightlifting tradition at the Commonwealth Games, winning multiple medals across editions including 2010 and 2014, with Ajay Babu's silver at Glasgow 2026 continuing that legacy.
