Commonwealth Games 2026: Raja Muthupandi clinches silver in men's 65kg weightlifting
Raja Muthupandi was impressive at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway, where he finished 9th in the 65kg division.
Indian weightlifter Raja Muthupandi claimed a hard-earned silver medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Sunday night. The Tamil Nadu lifter registered a total lift of 286kg to secure India’s fourth medal of the Games and the country’s third weightlifting medal on Day 4.
Steady performance earns silver
Competing at the Scottish Event Campus, Muthupandi endured a challenging start in the snatch. He missed his opening attempt at 126kg but successfully cleared the weight on his second try. However, he was unable to lift 129kg on his final attempt, finishing the discipline with a best lift of 126kg.
The 27-year-old once again showed grit in the clean and jerk. After failing his opening attempt at 158kg, he recovered to lift 160kg on his second attempt, taking his overall total to 286kg and briefly moving into the lead. His final attempt at 165kg, which would have put him in contention for the gold medal, was unsuccessful.
Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bidin won the gold medal with a Commonwealth Games record total of 299kg, while Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru claimed bronze with 282kg. Muthupandi’s composed and consistent performance was enough to secure the silver medal and another podium finish for India.
Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2026: Who are India’s medal contenders today, July 27 (Day 4)?
Who is Raja Muthupandi?
Raja Muthupandi has emerged as one of India’s leading weightlifters after overcoming a career-threatening injury early in his career.
His breakthrough came in 2025 when he won the silver medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad with a personal-best total of 296kg, comprising a 128kg snatch and a 168kg clean and jerk.
Later that year, he impressed at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway, where he finished ninth in the men’s 65kg category. He improved his personal best to 299kg, lifting 130kg in the snatch and 169kg in the clean and jerk.
Muthupandi’s rise was far from straightforward. In 2019, he suffered a ligament tear in his right elbow during the Commonwealth Championships, an injury that required surgery and kept him out of competition for an extended period. He made his comeback at the 2021 National Championships and steadily worked his way back to the top.
In 2026, he captured the senior national title with a total lift of 302kg, further cementing his status as one of India’s brightest weightlifting talents.
What medal did Raja Muthupandi win at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Raja Muthupandi won a silver medal in the men’s 65kg weightlifting category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
What is Raja Muthupandi’s career-best overall performance?
His highest total lift is 302 kg, which he achieved in 2026 to win the senior national title.
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Namrata is a Delhi-based sports journalist who covers cricket, tennis, badminton, and a range of other sports. She has reported on major events including the T20 World Cup, ICC Women’s World Cup, IPL, and Wimbledon. Alongside handling live cricket coverage, she specialises in analytical and in-depth match stories. Over the years, Namrata has conducted exclusive interviews with some of India’s leading and emerging athletes, including shuttlers Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, and Krishna Nagar, as well as cricketers Navdeep Saini and Sneh Rana.