Weightlifter Rishikanta Singh Secures Silver After Record-Matching Snatch Performance

Execution Errors Cost Singh Gold in Glasgow

India opened its able-bodied medal account at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on July 26, as Rishikanta Singh claimed silver in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event. The Manipuri athlete concluded his campaign with a combined total of 264kg. While Singh dominated the early phase of the competition, two unsuccessful lifts during the clean and jerk segment prevented him from securing the top spot on the podium.

A Split Performance: Snatch Success and Clean and Jerk Struggles

Singh’s performance began with high momentum in the snatch category. He successfully lifted 121kg, a feat that equaled the existing Commonwealth Games record and placed him in the lead going into the second half of the event. However, the advantage evaporated during the clean and jerk phase. Singh managed an initial 143kg but failed on both subsequent attempts, leaving his total vulnerable to a surge from the Malaysian camp.

Regional Rivals and Podium Standings

Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Kasdan capitalized on Singh's missed attempts to rewrite the record books. While Kasdan matched Singh’s 121kg in the snatch, he delivered a dominant 152kg clean and jerk. This performance set new Commonwealth Games records for both the clean and jerk and the overall total, which stood at 273kg.

The competition for the final podium spot saw Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya secure the bronze medal. The results of the top four competitors are as follows:

• Gold: Mohamad Aniq Kasdan (Malaysia) – 273kg (121kg + 152kg)
• Silver: Rishikanta Singh (India) – 264kg (121kg + 143kg)
• Bronze: Joshua Amunga Mboya (Kenya) – 260kg (115kg + 145kg)
• Fourth: SDSS Wiriduwagle (Sri Lanka) – 244kg (109kg + 135kg)

Singh’s silver marks a significant milestone for the Indian delegation in Glasgow, representing the first medal won by the nation’s able-bodied athletes in this edition of the Games.

Source: The Hindu — Home