Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday, 3 August felicitated India's Commonwealth Games 2026 weightlifting medallists in New Delhi, presenting cash rewards in recognition of the team's historic campaign in Glasgow. The Indian weightlifting contingent returned with eight medals — one gold, six silver, and one bronze — across 11 weight categories.

Cash Awards Presented

Mandaviya presented cash rewards of ₹30 lakh to gold medallists, ₹20 lakh to silver medallists, and ₹10 lakh to the bronze medallist. The minister described the campaign as one of India's strongest-ever weightlifting performances at the Commonwealth Games, noting that the achievements had been celebrated on the floor of Parliament as medals arrived.

'In Parliament too, announcements were made every time you won medals. Those moments made every Indian proud,' Mandaviya said while congratulating the lifters.

Historic Performances in Glasgow

The standout moment of the campaign was Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu creating history by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals. Meanwhile, Rishikanta Singh and Valluri Ajay Babu set new Commonwealth Games records in the Snatch. Athletes including Gyaneshwari Yadav and Harjinder Kaur registered personal-best performances during the Games.

Notably, six of the 11 competing weightlifters are Khelo India Athletes (KIAs), underscoring the programme's growing role in elite athlete development. Among the medallists, Gyaneshwari is a Khelo India athlete, while Bindyarani Devi, Harjinder, and others train at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Patiala.

Tribute to Coaches and Support Staff

Mandaviya paid tribute to the coaching staff, singling out Dronacharya awardee Vijay Sharma, who was present at the felicitation ceremony. 'The guru has the biggest role in an athlete's journey. There is nothing greater than a coach's contribution in creating champions,' the minister said. The remarks reflected a broader government emphasis on recognising the support ecosystem behind medal-winning performances.

Government's Long-Term Vision for Indian Sports

The minister urged the medallists to act as ambassadors of sport by visiting schools and colleges to inspire young people. 'Your stories can motivate thousands of children to dream big. Together, we are taking decisive steps towards building a truly sporting nation,' he said.

Mandaviya also engaged the weightlifters in conversations about their journeys, the hardships they overcame, and their aspirations for upcoming competitions — particularly the Asian Games 2026. Addressing athletes who narrowly missed the podium, he said: 'A sportsperson never truly loses. What matters is the passion to keep improving.'

With the Khelo India programme continuing to feed the elite pipeline, and the NCOE in Patiala emerging as a key training hub, India's weightlifting unit will next set its sights on the Asian Games 2026 as the next major benchmark.