Who is Raja Muthupandi? All you need to know about India’s weightlifting medallist at Commonwealth Games 2026
Raja Muthupandi hails from Tamil Nadu
Indian weightlifters had a brilliant outing on Day 3 of the Commonwealth Games 2026, with three athletes bagging medals – one gold and two silvers. Raja Muthupandi was one of those successful lifters at the Glasgow Games, winning a silver medal in the men’s 65 kg weightlifting event on Sunday.
The 26-year-old weightlifter from Tamil Nadu registered a successful lift of 126 kg in snatch and 160 kg in clean and jerk, finishing second with a combined lift of 286 kg. The gold medal went to Malaysia’s Aznil Bidin with a total lift of 299 kg.
Other than Raja, two other Indian lifters also bagged medals at the Glasgow Games. Rishikanta Singh won silver in the men’s 60 kg event, while the legendary Mirabai Chanu bagged gold in the women’s 48 kg event.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for Day 4 (July 27)
Raja Muthupandi’s career so far
Born on January 12, 2000, in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, Raja started weightlifting at a young age. He rose through the ranks in the junior circuit, securing qualification for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. He finished sixth in the men’s 62 kg event.
Raja suffered a big injury setback in 2019, tearing a ligament in his right elbow during the snatch event at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships. He had to undergo surgery, with his rehabilitation being delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After coming back from injury, he competed at the National Championships in 2021, finishing third. However, he narrowly failed to secure qualification for the Birmingham 2022 CWG. He then suffered another setback after being diagnosed with jaundice and undergoing an appendectomy. As a result, he could not train for 10 months.
Persevering through his hardships, Raja made his senior breakthrough in 2025, winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad. He recorded successful lifts of 128 kg in snatch and 168 kg in clean and jerk to finish with a total lift of 296 kg.
He represented India at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway. He finished ninth in the men’s 65 kg event with a personal-best total lift of 299 kg – with 130 kg in snatch and 169 kg in clean and jerk.
He then took part in the 20th Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Modinagar in February 2026. He clinched gold in the men’s 65 kg event. He registered lifts of 130 kg in snatch and 172 kg in clean and jerk, setting a national record with a total lift of 302 kg.
Now, Raja has added a maiden CWG medal to his tally at the Commonwealth Games 2026, establishing himself as one of the country’s premier weightlifters.
Where and when will Commonwealth Games 2026 take place?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
Who is Raja Muthupandi?
He is a 26‑year‑old Indian weightlifter who won a silver medal in the men’s 65kg event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.