Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Raja Muthupandi

Indian weightlifter Raja Muthupandi will represent India in the men’s 65 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

The 26-year-old from Tamil Nadu heads into his second Commonwealth Games after making his debut at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He returns after a remarkable comeback from injuries and health setbacks and secured his place in the Indian team by winning the national title and setting a new national record earlier this year.

Early days

Born on 12 January 2000, Raja Muthupandi hails from Kovilpatti in the Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) district of Tamil Nadu.

He started weightlifting at a young age and quickly progressed through the junior ranks.

His talent earned him a place at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where he finished sixth in the men’s 62 kg category.

It marked the beginning of his international career and established him as one of India’s promising young weightlifters.

Career setbacks

Raja’s career took a major setback in 2019 during the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships when he suffered a severe ligament tear in his right elbow during the snatch event.

The injury required surgery, while the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his rehabilitation.

He had to leave the national camp and continue his recovery through private rehabilitation before returning to training.

After making his comeback at the 2021 National Championships, where he finished third, Raja narrowly missed selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

His challenges continued in 2022 when he was diagnosed with jaundice and later underwent surgery for appendicitis.

The health problems kept him away from training for nearly 10 months, and at one stage he even considered quitting weightlifting.

Comeback

Raja returned stronger over the next few seasons and worked his way back into India’s top weightlifters.

His biggest performance came at the 20th Senior National Weightlifting Championships in Modinagar in February 2026. Competing in the men’s 65 kg category, he won the gold medal with a national record total lift of 302 kg, comprising a 130 kg snatch and a 172 kg clean and jerk.

He was also recognised among the top performers in the Senior Men’s category. The performance secured his place in India’s Commonwealth Games squad.

Raja continued his good form at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, where he won the silver medal with a total lift of 296 kg, including a 128 kg snatch and a 168 kg clean and jerk.

Later that year, he competed at the World Weightlifting Championships in Norway (Forde).

He finished ninth overall in the men’s 65 kg category with a personal-best total lift of 299 kg, made up of a 130 kg snatch and a 169 kg clean and jerk. He also finished fifth in the clean and jerk standings.

Now, after overcoming injuries and multiple health setbacks, Raja Muthupandi will compete in his second Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026 as one of India’s medal contenders in the men’s 65 kg event.