Sonowal Hails Ajaya Babu's CWG Silver in 79kg Weightlifting
Synopsis
Valluri Ajaya Babu won Silver in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at CWG 2026, setting a Commonwealth Games Record in the Snatch and posting a 330kg total. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led congratulations, calling it a proud moment for the nation.
Key Takeaways
Valluri Ajaya Babu won Silver in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at CWG 2026 .
He set a Commonwealth Games Record in the Snatch , redefining the benchmark for the event.
His combined total lift was 330kg .
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal publicly congratulated Ajaya Babu on 28 July 2026 .
Weightlifting remains one of India's most consistent medal-winning disciplines at the Commonwealth Games.
A 330kg total lift and a Commonwealth Games Record in the Snatch — Valluri Ajaya Babu announced himself on the global stage at CWG 2026, and Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal was among the first to mark the moment.
Sonowal took to X on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 to congratulate the weightlifter on his Silver medal in the Men's 79kg category, calling it 'a proud moment for the entire nation.'
A Record Snatch, a Massive Total
The headline number is 330kg — the combined total that earned Ajaya Babu his podium finish. But the Snatch record is the sharper story: setting a Commonwealth Games Record in that discipline means he did not just medal, he redrew the benchmark for the event itself. In weightlifting, the Snatch tests pure explosive power; breaking a Games record in it is a statement that outlasts the medal.
Weightlifting's Place in India's CWG Story
Weightlifting has long been one of India's most reliable medal pipelines at the Commonwealth Games. Across successive editions, Indian lifters have stepped onto the podium with a consistency few other disciplines match. Ajaya Babu's silver continues that thread — and the record he set gives Indian weightlifting a new number to chase at future editions.
Sonowal, a senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Assam, extended his 'best wishes' to the athlete, joining a now-familiar pattern of Union Ministers using social media to amplify Indian sporting achievements on the international stage under the #Cheer4Bharat banner.
With India's overall medal tally still building at CWG 2026, Ajaya Babu's silver — and the record that came with it — is exactly the kind of result that lifts the count and the mood simultaneously.
Point of View
However, is the detail that elevates this beyond routine: it signals a generational benchmark, not just a podium finish, and gives Indian weightlifting administrators a new standard to build programming around heading into the next Games cycle.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Valluri Ajaya Babu?
Valluri Ajaya Babu is an Indian weightlifter who won Silver in the Men's 79kg event at CWG 2026, setting a Commonwealth Games Record in the Snatch with a total lift of 330kg.
What record did Ajaya Babu set at CWG 2026?
He set a Commonwealth Games Record in the Snatch discipline during the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at CWG 2026.
What was Ajaya Babu's total lift at CWG 2026?
Valluri Ajaya Babu posted a combined total of 330kg across the Snatch and Clean and Jerk to secure his Silver medal.
What did Sarbananda Sonowal say about Ajaya Babu's medal?
Sonowal called the achievement 'a proud moment for the entire nation' and extended his best wishes to the athlete on X on 28 July 2026.
How has India performed in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games?
Weightlifting has historically been one of India's strongest disciplines at the Commonwealth Games, with Indian lifters consistently finishing on the podium across multiple editions.
