New Delhi: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday felicitated India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 weightlifting medallists and announced cash rewards for their performances at the Glasgow Games.
Indian weightlifters returned with eight medals—one gold, six silver and one bronze—from 11 weight categories, registering multiple Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records besides several personal-best performances.
The minister presented cash awards of ₹30 lakh to gold medallists, ₹20 lakh to silver medallists and ₹10 lakh to bronze medallists.
Congratulating the athletes, Dr Mandaviya said their achievements had made the country proud and were widely celebrated across the nation. He also acknowledged the contribution of coaches, including Dronacharya awardee Vijay Sharma, and said coaches play a crucial role in developing champions.
Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian weightlifter to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals, while Rishikanta Singh and Valluri Ajay Babu set Commonwealth Games records in the snatch event. Several lifters, including Gyaneshwari Yadav and Harjinder Kaur, also recorded personal-best performances.
The minister noted that six of the 11 Indian weightlifters were Khelo India Athletes, while several medallists train at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Patiala.
Dr Mandaviya urged the athletes to visit schools and colleges to motivate young people to take up sports and said their achievements could inspire the next generation.
During the interaction, the athletes shared their experiences of training, overcoming challenges and preparing for future competitions, including the 2026 Asian Games.
The minister also encouraged athletes who narrowly missed medals, asking them to remain focused on improving their performances. He said the government’s investment in programmes such as Khelo India aimed to provide athletes with world-class coaching, scientific support and competitive exposure to help them succeed internationally.
