Glasgow, July 28: Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu added a new chapter to his family’s sporting legacy by winning the silver medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, becoming the second generation of the Valluri family to reach the Commonwealth podium.
The 21-year-old lifter finished with a combined total of 330kg, producing a Games-record lift of 149kg in the snatch before adding 181kg in the clean and jerk. He narrowly missed the gold medal by just one kilogram.Ajaya’s achievement comes 16 years after his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, secured a bronze medal in the men’s 56kg event at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Their accomplishments place the family among the rare father-son combinations to win Commonwealth Games medals in the same sport.Hailing from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, Ajaya grew up in a region known for its long-standing weightlifting culture.
His father, who discovered his own talent through traditional village strength competitions, later trained professionally and went on to represent India at the international level.
Weightlifting swells India's medal tally!
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 28, 2026
Proud of you Valluri Ajaya Babu. Your remarkable performance winning the Silver Medal🥈in the Men's 79kg Weightlifting event at #CWG2026 reflects your dedication and will inspire the new generation. pic.twitter.com/UuEs1i0pIK
Inspired by his father’s journey, Ajaya began training at an early age under his guidance before joining the national coaching camp in Patiala in 2021.
He has often credited his father for providing constant support and allowing him to focus entirely on his development as an athlete.
The silver medal in Glasgow adds to Ajaya’s growing list of achievements. He had earlier won gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, emerging as one of India’s promising young lifters.
Although he narrowly missed the top step of the podium in Glasgow, Ajaya’s performance, highlighted by a Commonwealth Games record in the snatch, underlined his potential on the international stage.
With his latest success, the young weightlifter has continued a family tradition of excellence while reinforcing India’s strong presence in Commonwealth weightlifting competitions.
