India’s Chanambam Rishikanta Singh won the country’s first silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after producing a record-breaking performance in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event on Sunday.
The 24-year-old lifter finished with a combined total of 264kg, including a Commonwealth Games record 121kg in the snatch. However, Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan claimed the gold medal with a Games record total of 273kg, while Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya secured bronze with 260kg.
Rishikanta dominated the snatch competition, successfully lifting 116kg and 119kg before clearing 121kg on his third attempt to set a new Games record and personal best. Aniq later matched the 121kg lift, leaving both athletes level heading into the clean and jerk.
The Indian opened the clean and jerk with a successful 143kg lift to reach an overall total of 264kg. He failed to lift 148kg on his second attempt, allowing Aniq to move ahead after clearing 149kg.
Needing 151kg on his final attempt to overtake the Malaysian and secure gold, Rishikanta was unable to complete the lift, settling for silver.
The medal is India’s second at the Glasgow Games after para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar won bronze in the men’s heavyweight category.
Rishikanta earned his place at the Commonwealth Games by winning gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, where he set a national record with a total lift of 271kg in the men’s 60kg category.
Hailing from Imphal West in Manipur, the Indian Army athlete made his Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022 in the men’s 55kg division before moving to the 60kg category following changes to international weight classes.
He also finished 11th at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships with a total of 269kg and set a national snatch record of 124kg at the 2024 National Weightlifting Championships. His silver medal in Glasgow further strengthens his reputation as one of India’s leading weightlifters in the lighter divisions.
