Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya felicitated India's Commonwealth Games 2026 weightlifting medalists on Monday, recognizing their historic performances in Glasgow. Indian weightlifters competed in 11 weight categories and returned with eight medals consisting of one gold, six silver, and one bronze. The contingent registered multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records, while several athletes achieved personal-best lifts.
The Minister presented cash awards of ₹30 lakh to gold medalists, ₹20 lakh to silver medalists, and ₹10 lakh to bronze medalists in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Dr. Mandaviya noted that the entire nation had celebrated their achievements, with announcements made in Parliament following each medal win. He paid tribute to coaches including Dronacharya awardee Vijay Sharma, emphasizing their indispensable role in shaping champions.
Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu created history by becoming the first Indian weightlifter to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals. Rishikanta Singh and Valluri Ajay Babu set new Commonwealth Games records in the Snatch category, while several lifters including Gyaneshwari Yadav and Harjinder Kaur registered personal-best performances.
Out of the 11 competing weightlifters, six were Khelo India Athletes (KIAs). Among the medalists, Gyaneshwari is a Khelo India athlete, while Bindyarani Devi, Harjinder and others train at the Sports Authority of India's National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Patiala, which plays an instrumental role in India's grassroots and elite athlete development ecosystem.
The Minister urged the weightlifters to visit schools and colleges to inspire young people to embrace sports, stating that their stories can motivate thousands of children to dream big. He engaged with athletes about their struggles, journeys to the podium, and aspirations for future competitions including the Asian Games 2026. Athletes shared stories of overcoming hardships, support received through national coaching camps, international exposure, scientific training, and their determination to continue winning laurels for the country.
Dr. Mandaviya encouraged those who narrowly missed the podium not to lose heart, emphasizing that a sportsperson never truly loses and what matters is the passion to keep improving. He highlighted the Government's long-term vision for Indian sports, noting that many medalists emerged through initiatives such as Khelo India, which provides young athletes with world-class coaching, scientific support and competitive exposure. The government is creating every possible facility so that Indian athletes may compete against the best in the world.