Commonwealth Games: Record-breaking Rishikanta Singh wins silver in men’s 60kg weightlifting
India’s Chanambam Rishikanta Singh produced a record-breaking performance to bag the silver medal in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Sunday. The Indian lifter finished with a total of 264kg after setting a new Games record in the snatch, but Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan edged him out to the gold with a Commonwealth Games record total of 273kg.
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The silver was India’s second medal of the Games after para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar had won bronze in the men’s heavyweight category. Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya claimed the bronze medal with a total of 260kg.
Rishikanta stamped his authority early in the competition with a flawless display in the snatch. He comfortably cleared 116kg and 119kg before lifting 121kg on his third attempt to set a new Commonwealth Games record and register a personal best. The mark, however, did not stand alone for long as Aniq matched the 121kg lift in his final snatch attempt.
With both lifters level after the opening discipline, the contest for gold shifted to the clean and jerk.
Rishikanta opened with a successful lift of 143kg to move to an overall total of 264kg. He then attempted 148kg but failed, handing the initiative to Aniq, who responded with a successful 149kg lift to move ahead.
Needing 151kg in his final attempt to reclaim the lead and win gold, Rishikanta went for the big lift but could not hold it overhead. His total remained at 264kg, while Aniq secured gold with 273kg. Mboya completed the podium after clearing 145kg in his final clean and jerk attempt to finish with 260kg. Although he fell short of the top step of the podium, Rishikanta’s record-breaking snatch and silver-medal finish marked another significant achievement in his career.
WHO IS RISHIKANTA SINGH?
Rishikanta qualified for the Commonwealth Games after winning gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad. He lifted a career-best total of 271kg, including a 120kg snatch and a 151kg clean and jerk, to set a national record in the men’s 60kg category and book his place in India’s squad.
The weightlifter from Imphal West in Manipur has trained under the Indian Army’s sporting programme and has steadily established himself among India’s leading lifters in the lighter weight divisions.
Glasgow marked his second Commonwealth Games appearance after making his debut at Birmingham 2022 in the men’s 55kg category. Following changes to the international weight classes, he moved into the 60kg division, where he has produced the finest performances of his career.
Ahead of the Games, Rishikanta finished 11th at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships with a total of 269kg. He had also set a national snatch record of 124kg at the 2024 National Weightlifting Championships before switching to the 60kg category.
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