Draft:Muthupandi Raja

• • Muthupandi Raja** (also referred to as Raja Muthupandi; born 12 January 2000) is an Indian weightlifter who competes in the men's 65 kg category. He won the silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

1. 1. 1. Early career

Raja represented India at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, finishing sixth in the men's 62 kg event. He had earlier success at junior and youth levels, including medals at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth and Junior Championships.

1. 1. 1. Injury and comeback

At the 2019 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, Raja suffered a serious ligament injury to his right elbow during the snatch that required surgery. Recovery was prolonged by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he missed selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He returned to competition with a bronze medal at the 2021 Senior National Championships.

In 2025 he earned silver at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad with a total of 296 kg and placed ninth at the World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, Norway, with a personal-best total of 299 kg. In February 2026 he won the senior national title in the 65 kg class with a national-record total of 302 kg (130 kg snatch and 172 kg clean and jerk).

1. 1. 1. 2026 Commonwealth Games

At the Glasgow Games, Raja lifted a combined 286 kg (best attempts reported as approximately 126–127 kg in the snatch and 159–160 kg in the clean and jerk) to take silver behind Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bidin, who set a Commonwealth Games record with 299 kg. Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru won bronze. The result was India’s third weightlifting medal of the Games.

Raja has dedicated the medal to his parents and coach and described the performance as part of a long recovery process after years of setbacks.

1. 1. 1. References