‘It’s a mix of happiness and sadness’: Ajaya Babu reflects on CWG 2026 silver after missing gold by 1kg

GLASGOW: Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu described his Commonwealth Games 2026 silver medal as “a mix of happiness and sadness” after narrowly missing out on the gold in the men’s 79kg event, promising to learn from his mistakes and come back stronger in future competitions.

Speaking after his medal-winning performance in Glasgow, Ajaya said, “It is a mix of happiness and sadness, as I missed out on the gold. However, I performed better today. I feel that a mistake cost me the gold today. I will ensure I don’t repeat this error in future competitions and will work even harder for upcoming games. The journey to reach this point was incredibly hard. I have put in immense hard work over the last two years. I am happy to have earned the silver as a result of that effort, though there is a tinge of sadness about missing the gold. I dedicate this medal to my coaches, my father, and the entire nation of India.”

#WATCH | Scotland | Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games | Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu says, “It is a mix of happiness and sadness, as I missed out on the gold. However, I performed better today… I feel that a mistake cost me the gold today. I will ensure I don’t repeat… https://t.co/h2cKl5o8OL pic.twitter.com/NOflgpUpqY

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The 22-year-old from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh delivered a spirited performance to finish second with a total lift of 330kg (149kg in snatch and 181kg in clean and jerk), falling just one kilogram short of Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who claimed gold with 331kg after producing a Games-record clean and jerk lift of 184kg.

Scotland’s Chris Murray secured the bronze medal with a total of 325kg (148kg in snatch and 177kg in clean and jerk).

Ajaya made a dream start by setting a Commonwealth Games record of 149kg in the snatch, putting himself in contention for the gold medal. However, Hidayat produced a clutch performance in the clean and jerk to edge past the Indian by a solitary kilogram.

Record Start. Silver Finish.

A 330kg total powers Valluri Ajaya Babu to Silver in the Men’s 79kg Weightlifting event.

His 149kg snatch briefly stood as a Commonwealth Games record as he finished just 1kg shy of Gold.

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The silver medal was another proud moment for Ajaya’s family. His father had won bronze in weightlifting at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the young lifter surpassed that feat by claiming silver in Glasgow. Ajaya also continued the rich sporting tradition of his native Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh, which has produced 20 national and 13 international weightlifters.

The Indian had entered the Games in impressive form after defeating Hidayat at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships earlier this year with a total of 335kg, compared to the Malaysian’s 333kg. Although Hidayat reversed the result in Glasgow, Ajaya once again demonstrated his ability to compete with the world’s best.

India enjoyed another successful day on the weightlifting platform, with Gyaneshwari Yadav winning silver in the women’s 53kg category and Bindyarani Devi claiming bronze in the women’s 58kg event. India have now won six medals in weightlifting at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games — one gold, four silver and one bronze.

India’s medal winners so far are Mirabai Chanu (gold, weightlifting), Sharmila Dhankar (gold, women’s shot put F57), Rishikanta Singh (silver, weightlifting), Muthupandi Raja (silver, weightlifting), Gyaneshwari Yadav (silver, weightlifting), Sarvesh Kushare (silver, men’s high jump), Valluri Ajaya Babu (silver, weightlifting), Bindyarani Devi (bronze, weightlifting), Shilpa Shyla (bronze, women’s shot put F57) and Jhandu Kumar (bronze, para powerlifting). (ANI)