Raja Muthupandi added to India’s strong start in the sport by winning a silver medal in the men’s 65kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.The 26-year-old lifted 126kg in the snatch and 160kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 286kg, finishing second. Malaysia’s Mohamed Aznil Bin Bidin won the gold medal with a Commonwealth Games record of 299kg, while Papua New Guinea’s Moriah Baru won the bronze medal with 282kg.
GLASGOW: Malaysian gold medalist Mohammad Aznil Bidin (centre), Indian silver medalist Raja Muthupandi (left) and Papua New Guinea bronze medalist Moriah Baru during the men’s 65kg weightlifting final at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) (PTI07_27_2026_000023A)
The silver medal is Muthu Pandey’s first Commonwealth Games medal after finishing sixth in the men’s 62kg event on his Gold Coast debut in 2018.
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There’s still a long way to go back to the podium
Muthupandy’s progress was halted by a serious elbow ligament injury in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted his recovery. After moving up to the 67kg category, where he also found his opportunities limited, Jeremy Lalrinnunga established himself as India’s leading weightlifter in the category and eventually won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Jeremy’s injury woes and decline in form later opened the door for Muthupandy, who moved to the 65kg category and re-established his place in the national team.
Glasgow: India’s Raja Muthupandi competes in the men’s 65kg weightlifting final at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary) (PTI07_27_2026_000022A)
He finished ninth at the 2025 World Championships, announced his return to competition, and set a personal best of 299 kg in the snatch 130 kg and the clean and jerk 169 kg.
India’s medal tally rises
Muthupandy arrived in Glasgow after winning silver at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships and has now added a Commonwealth Games silver medal to his resume.His medal was India’s third in weightlifting that day, after Rishkantha Singh and Mirabhai Chanu topped the podium, and took the country’s medal tally at the Olympics to four, including one gold, two silver and one bronze.
