2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

India Clinches 40 Medals at 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

In a remarkable display of strength and depth, India emerged as the top performer at the 30th Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025—also the 25th Senior edition—held in Ahmedabad from 24th to 30th August. The Indian contingent dominated across Senior, Junior, and Youth categories, clinching a staggering 40 medals in total: 27 Gold, 10 Silver, and 3 Bronze.

Medals Breakdown & Team Triumphs

Senior Category (25th Edition)

• Medal Tally: 4 Gold, 6 Silver, 3 Bronze—topping the senior medal table.
• Gold Medalists:
  • Mirabai Chanu (Women’s 48 kg): Lifted 193 kg (84 kg snatch + 109 kg clean & jerk), setting three new Commonwealth records and earning direct qualification for 2026 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow.
    
  • Rishikanta Singh (Men’s 60 kg), Ajith Narayana (Men’s 71 kg), and Ajaya Babu Valluri (Men’s 79 kg) also bagged senior golds.
    

Junior & Youth Categories

• Junior & Youth Goldies:
  • Sairaj Pardeshi (Junior Men’s 88 kg): Total lift 348 kg (157 + 191), surpassing even the senior winner and setting a new junior Commonwealth record.
    
  • Koyel Bar (Junior Women’s 53 kg): Clinched gold, Youth World Record, and Best Lifter trophy.
    
  • Tushar Chaudhary, Parv Chaudhary, Arumugapandian Maharajan, Yash Khandagale, and others also made their mark with multiple golds.
    

Team Trophies

• India swept team trophies across all levels:
  • Youth Boys & Girls
  • Junior Men & Women
  • Senior Men & Women
    

Highlights Worth Celebrating

1. Brand New Records: Mirabai Chanu’s triumphant return featured record-breaking lifts; Sairaj and Koyel stunned with junior and youth records.
2. Spotlight on Youth: India’s medal haul and team wins across age groups underscore the country’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent.
3. Strategic Leap for Global Showcases: Qualifiers like Mirabai now gear up for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, making India a force to reckon with.

Why This Matters (UPSC Relevance)

• Prelims: Memorize: 30th Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025, Ahmedabad; India’s medal tally: 40 total (27-10-3).
• Mains (GS-1 & GS-2):
  • Discuss India’s sports development strategies focusing on grassroots talent + institutional support.
  • Examine how youth-led success reflects long-term policy, as seen in Talent identification missions like Khelo India and SAI infrastructure.
  • Explore male vs. female athlete preparedness, using Mirabai’s and Koyel’s record-breaking feats as case studies.