Raja Muthupandi’s Silver Sparkles at CWG 2026

When Raja Muthupandi stepped onto the platform in Glasgow on Sunday, the murmurs in the arena were a mix of curiosity and hope. The 26‑year‑old, who had spent the better part of the last six years battling a nasty elbow ligament injury and the fallout of the pandemic, was finally back where he belonged – at the top of his game.

He opened the snatch with a confident 126 kg on his second attempt, a lift that felt like a statement of intent. The clean and jerk followed a few minutes later, and again on his second try he hoisted 160 kg. Those numbers added up to a total of 286 kg, enough to place him squarely in second place behind Malaysia’s Aznil Bin Bidin Muhamed, who set a new Commonwealth Games record with 299 kg.

Raja’s silver is more than just a medal; it’s a testament to perseverance. Back in 2019 a severe elbow injury threatened to end his career. Rehab was slow, and when COVID‑19 shut down gyms, progress stalled. A switch to a higher weight class saw him lose a spot to emerging talent like Jeremy Lalrinnunga for the Birmingham 2022 Games. Yet when the 65 kg category was introduced, Raja seized the chance, posting a personal‑best 299 kg total at the 2025 World Championships and earning his way back onto the national team.

The Glasgow stage turned into a showcase for India’s weightlifting depth. Earlier in the day, Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu completed a remarkable three‑peat, grabbing gold in the women’s 48 kg division. Not far behind, Chanambam Rishikanta Singh added a silver in the men’s 60 kg class. Raja’s podium finish made it three medals for India in a single session, underscoring how the sport has become a reliable source of points for the country’s Commonwealth Games campaign.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Team India, however. In the boxing ring, Aditya Pratap Yadav suffered a narrow 3‑2 split‑decision loss to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte, handing India its first defeat of the Games in that discipline.

Still, as the stadium lights dimmed and the Indian flag fluttered beside the medals, Raja’s smile said it all – the journey from a broken elbow to a shining silver was worth every setback, every extra hour in the gym, and every moment of doubt.