CWG 2026: Bindyarani, Ajaya Babu win medals as India shines in Glasgow weightlifting
Synopsis
India's weightlifters are dominating the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 podium. Bindyarani Devi secured bronze, Ajaya Babu set a CWG snatch record en route to silver — missing gold by just 1kg — and debutant Gyaneshwari Yadav also bagged silver, adding to a haul that already includes Mirabai Chanu's gold and two other silvers.
Key Takeaways
Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam won bronze in the women's 58kg event with a total lift of 199kg at CWG 2026, Glasgow .
Valluri Ajaya Babu claimed silver in the men's 79kg with a total of 330kg , setting a CWG snatch record of 149kg — finishing just 1kg behind gold medallist Muhammad Erry Hidayat of Malaysia.
Debutant Gyaneshwari Yadav won silver in the women's 53kg with a personal-best 199kg total.
Mirabai Chanu had earlier won gold in the women's 49kg , breaking three CWG records.
PM Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the athletes via posts on X.
Indian weightlifters Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam and Valluri Ajaya Babu claimed podium finishes at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, drawing praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The results add to a strong run for India's weightlifting contingent at the ongoing Games.
Bindyarani Claims Bronze in Women's 58kg
Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam secured the bronze medal in the women's 58kg weightlifting event on Monday, registering a total lift of 199kg — comprising 87kg in the snatch and 112kg in the clean and jerk. The Manipur lifter had previously won a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the 55kg category, making this her second consecutive CWG podium.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated her on X, writing: 'Yet another medal for India in weightlifting! Proud of Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam for winning a bronze in the Women's 58kg event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Her success is due to her hard work and determination. Wishing her the very best for the endeavours ahead.'
Ajaya Babu Sets CWG Record, Wins Silver in Men's 79kg
Valluri Ajaya Babu delivered a standout performance in the men's 79kg event, setting a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch before adding 181kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 330kg. He narrowly missed gold, finishing just 1kg behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, to claim the silver medal.
Sports Minister Mandaviya hailed the Khelo India athlete on X, saying: 'Sheer strength on show! Many congratulations to Khelo India athlete Valluri Ajaya Babu on winning the silver medal in the men's 79 kg weightlifting. With a total lift of 330 kg, he also set a Commonwealth Games record in the Snatch. A memorable performance and another proud moment for Bharat.'
Gyaneshwari Yadav Shines on CWG Debut
Gyaneshwari Yadav added a silver medal in the women's 53kg event on her CWG debut. The 23-year-old, who moved up from the 49kg category to accommodate Mirabai Chanu, produced a personal-best total of 199kg — 88kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk.
India's Broader Weightlifting Haul at Glasgow
The medal rush began on Sunday, when Mirabai Chanu shattered three Commonwealth Games records — in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total — on her way to gold in the women's 49kg event. Rishikanta Singh claimed silver in the men's 60kg, and Muthupandi Raja added another silver in the men's 65kg, underscoring the depth of India's weightlifting programme at Glasgow. The cumulative performance signals that India's investment in the sport — through initiatives like Khelo India — is yielding consistent international returns.
Point of View
Khelo India funding, and category management (Gyaneshwari moving up to 53kg to free space for Mirabai). Ajaya Babu's 1kg margin from gold is the story within the story: a CWG snatch record that still yielded silver points to the razor-thin gap India must close at the top. The real metric to track is not medal count but whether these performances translate into World Championship and Olympic qualification cycles.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Bindyarani Devi win at CWG 2026?
Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam won the bronze medal in the women's 58kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with a total lift of 199kg. She had previously won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the 55kg category.
What record did Valluri Ajaya Babu set at CWG 2026?
Valluri Ajaya Babu set a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch during the men's 79kg event in Glasgow. His total lift of 330kg earned him the silver medal, finishing just 1kg behind Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat.
Who is Gyaneshwari Yadav and how did she perform at CWG 2026?
Gyaneshwari Yadav is a 23-year-old Indian weightlifter who won silver in the women's 53kg event on her CWG debut. She produced a personal-best total of 199kg, having moved up from the 49kg category to accommodate Mirabai Chanu.
How has India performed overall in weightlifting at CWG 2026?
India has had a strong run in weightlifting at Glasgow, with Mirabai Chanu winning gold in the women's 49kg (breaking three CWG records), Rishikanta Singh and Muthupandi Raja winning silvers in the men's 60kg and 65kg respectively, and Bindyarani Devi, Ajaya Babu, and Gyaneshwari Yadav adding further medals.
What did PM Modi say about India's CWG 2026 weightlifting results?
PM Modi congratulated Bindyarani Devi on X, calling her bronze 'yet another medal for India in weightlifting' and crediting her 'hard work and determination.' Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya separately praised Ajaya Babu's silver and CWG snatch record as 'a memorable performance and another proud moment for Bharat.'
