Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu delivered an outstanding performance, clinching gold in both the men’s 81kg junior and senior categories at the Commonwealth Championships held in Suva, Fiji, on Thursday.
Record-breaking lifts by the 19-year-old
At just 19 years old, Babu achieved a combined lift of 326kg, which included 147kg in the snatch and 179kg in the clean and jerk. His clean and jerk lift set a new Commonwealth record in the junior category, while also breaking junior national records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total weight divisions.
Sairaj Pardeshi and other Indian lifters excel
In the same event, Sairaj Pardeshi, another Indian lifter, won gold in the youth category and secured silver in the senior division, finishing behind Babu. Meanwhile, Lalruatfela bagged silver in the men’s 89kg junior category with a total lift of 301kg (135kg in snatch and 166kg in clean and jerk). Hrudananda Das also earned a silver medal in the youth category and a bronze in the junior division with a total lift of 299kg (129kg in snatch and 170kg in clean and jerk).
