Rishikanta Singh Wins Silver in Weightlifting at Commonwealth Games

Rishikanta Singh Lifts Silver and Breaks Snatch Records

India’s medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games climbed to two on Sunday, July 26, 2026, driven by a stellar performance from weightlifter Channambam Rishikanta Singh. Competing in the men’s 60kg category, the 28-year-old athlete finished second in the final with a total lift of 264 kilograms. Trained through the National Sports Academy in Imphal, Rishikanta built on his prior international experience, which includes representing India at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and taking an 11th-place finish at the world championship.

The silver medal came after a fierce battle on the platform where Rishikanta etched his name into the record books during the snatch phase. He opened with a lift of 116kg, followed by 119kg on his second attempt, before clearing 121kg on his third try. That final snatch set a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch category and marked the athlete’s personal best performance.

How the Podiums Shaped Up in the 60kg Weightlifting Final

At the conclusion of the snatch event, Rishikanta was tied for the lead with Malaysia’s Bidin Kasdan Muhammad Aniq, both having successfully hoisted 121kg. However, the clean and jerk section proved decisive for the gold medal. Rishikanta managed a clean and jerk lift of 143kg, but his subsequent attempt to lift 148kg fell short.

Malaysia’s Kasdan pulled ahead by successfully lifting 149kg on his second attempt and cementing his victory with a 151kg lift on his third turn. Kasdan finished with a gold-winning total of 273kg, while Rishikanta secured the silver with his 264kg total. Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya rounded out the podium by claiming the bronze medal.

Para Powerlifter Jhandu Kumar Opened India’s Medal Account

Before Rishikanta’s silver on the weekend, India’s campaign in Glasgow had been opened by para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar, who captured a bronze medal in the men’s para heavyweight division. Diagnosed with polio at the age of five and coming from a humble background in Bihar’s Nalanda district where he helped his parents sell vegetables, Kumar electrified the Hydro Arena by scoring 130.9 points.

Kumar cleared 181kg on his first attempt and 190kg on his second, though a final effort at 196kg was unsuccessful. Another Indian competitor in the same discipline, Sudhir, finished sixth with 114.1 points, while Ashok Malik placed fourth in the men’s lightweight division with 143.8 points.

Glasgow Welcomes Back the Commonwealth Games After Twelve Years

The 2026 multisport gathering officially began on Thursday, July 24, 2026, when King Charles III declared the 23rd edition open during a ceremony at the OVO Hydro. Marking the first return of the Games to Glasgow since 2014, the opening events featured performances by artists including KT Tunstall, Nathan Evans, and Saint PHNX.

Athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations are competing across 10 sports hosted at venues such as the Scottish Event Campus, Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross Swimming Centre, and the Glasgow Arena. Team India has sent a 126-member contingent across 13 categories, led into the opening ceremony by flagbearer Mirabai Chanu and batoned carrier Lovlina Borgohain.