Like father, like son: Valluri Ajaya Babu shines with CWG silver.

Andhra Pradesh lifter continues family tradition, narrowly missing gold in Glasgow.

Sixteen years after his father stood on the Commonwealth Games podium, Valluri Ajaya Babu carved his own place in Indian sporting history with a silver medal in the men’s 79kg weightlifting event at the 2026 Games in Glasgow. The 21-year-old from Andhra Pradesh delivered a performance that blended composure, strength, and sheer determination, missing the gold medal by just one kilogram in a nail-biting finale.

Ajaya Babu lifted a combined total of 330kg, 149kg in the snatch and 181kg in the clean and jerk. His duel with Malaysia’s Erry Hidayat Muhammad kept spectators on edge until the very last lift. After setting a new Games record with his snatch attempt, Ajaya Babu briefly led the competition when he matched Muhammad’s 181kg clean and jerk. But the Malaysian responded with a decisive 184kg lift, finishing with 331kg to claim gold. England’s Chris Murray secured bronze with a 325kg total.

For Ajaya Babu, the medal was more than a personal triumph, it continued a family legacy. His father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, had won bronze in the 56kg category at the 2010 Delhi Games. A flower cultivator by profession, Srinivasa Rao introduced his son to the sport and guided his early training. Sixteen years later, Ajaya Babu has taken the family name a step higher on the Commonwealth stage.

Hailing from Kondavelagada, a small village in Vizianagaram district known for its stone-lifting traditions, Ajaya Babu has risen steadily through the ranks. His journey to Glasgow was paved with success: gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad and a double gold sweep at the 2024 Fiji Championships in both junior and senior divisions.

India’s weightlifting contingent has enjoyed a strong showing in Glasgow, with six medals so far. Alongside Ajaya Babu’s silver, Mirabai Chanu claimed gold in the women’s 48kg, while Gyaneshwari Yadav, Chanambam Rishikanta Singh, and Muthupandi Raja each earned silver in their respective categories. Bindyarani Devi added a bronze in the women’s 58kg.

Though the gold slipped away by the narrowest of margins, Ajaya Babu’s silver medal represents both a personal milestone and a generational achievement. His rise underscores India’s growing strength in weightlifting and highlights the enduring spirit of a family that has carried its passion for the sport across two decades.