Weightlifting Legacy: Ajaya Babu Surpasses Father's Medal Record at Commonwealth Games

Gold Eludes Indian Lifter by One Kilogram

The Scottish Event Campus witnessed a razor-thin margin of victory on Monday night as India’s Ajaya Babu secured a silver medal in the men’s 79kg weightlifting event. The 21-year-old athlete from Kondavelagada village, located in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, completed his debut with a total lift of 330kg. He finished just behind Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who claimed gold with a total of 331kg.

The competition featured a back-and-forth exchange of records:

• Ajaya established a new Games record in the snatch with a lift of 149kg.
• Hidayat responded by setting records in the clean and jerk (184kg) and the total aggregate (331kg).
• The Indian lifter completed the clean and jerk at 181kg, falling just short of the top spot on the podium.

A Generational Milestone

For Ajaya, the achievement carries significant family weight. He spent his youth traveling to competitions with his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, who served as his primary inspiration. Rao previously won a bronze medal in the 56kg category during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. By securing silver in Glasgow, Ajaya has officially exceeded his father's medal standing.

Competitive Regret and Future Ambition

Despite the historic nature of his performance, the young lifter expressed mixed emotions regarding the final result. “I should have done better,” Ajaya remarked, noting his intent to target the gold in future cycles. He dedicated the silver medal to the Indian Weightlifting Federation, his coaching team, and his father. He credited his entry into the sport to his father’s influence and confirmed his resolve to improve on his performance at the next opportunity.

Source: The Hindu — Sport