Andhra Pradesh’s Valluri Ajaya Babu Clinches Weightlifting Silver in Glasgow

Sixteen years after his father Valluri Srinivasa Rao stood on the Commonwealth podium in Delhi, 21-year-old Valluri Ajaya Babu from Andhra Pradesh has carried forward the family’s weightlifting legacy by winning a silver medal in Glasgow. Competing in the men’s 79 kg category, Ajaya Babu lifted a total of 330 kg, comprising 149 kg in the snatch and 181 kg in the clean and jerk.

Hailing from Kondavelagada village in Vizianagaram district, Ajaya Babu narrowly missed gold by just one kilogram. Malaysia’s Hidayat Muhammad claimed the top spot with a total of 331 kg, while England’s Chris Murray secured bronze with 325 kg. Ajaya’s father had won bronze in the 56 kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, making the son’s achievement a proud continuation of the family legacy.