Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has announced a cash reward of Rs 30 lakh for weightlifter Raja Muthupandi, who clinched a silver medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. Congratulating Muthupandi for his achievement, the Chief Minister highlighted the reward as a tribute to his exceptional performance and expressed optimism that his victory would inspire budding athletes in the state.
Raja Muthupandi achieved a total lift of 286kg (126kg+160kg) during the competition. He started with a successful 125kg snatch, progressing to 126kg on his second attempt. Despite failing to lift 129kg in his final snatch, he managed successful clean and jerk lifts of 158kg and 160kg before falling short at 170kg in his last attempt, securing the silver medal.
Chief Minister Vijay hailed Muthupandi’s accomplishment as a moment of pride for Tamil Nadu and India. He conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the young weightlifter via social media, commending his record-breaking performance and resilience on the global stage.
The Chief Minister emphasized the significance of Muthupandi’s success by announcing the Rs 30 lakh cash prize, one of the state’s highest sports incentives, to honor the athlete. He expressed his belief that Muthupandi’s triumph would serve as a source of motivation for aspiring athletes to excel in sports, thereby bringing further acclaim to Tamil Nadu.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Raja Muthupandi for winning the silver medal in the men’s 65kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow. His success is a matter of immense pride for Tamil Nadu. May this achievement inspire our youth, and I wish him many more victories that will bring honor to both Tamil Nadu and the nation,” Vijay remarked.
In 2025, Raja secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Championships with a total lift of 296 kg. He also achieved a personal best of 299 kg (130 kg snatch + 169 kg clean and jerk) at the World Championships in Førde, Norway, finishing 9th in the 65 kg category, positioning him as one of India’s leading male weightlifters aiming for LA 2028.
