Tamil Nadu weightlifter Raja Muthupandi clinched the silver medal in the men’s 65kg category at the Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Scotland. He lifted a total of 286kg, combining 126kg in snatch and 160kg in clean and jerk.
Following the result, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vijay were among those who congratulated the athlete, according to reports.
Speaking about the achievement, Raja Muthupandi’s mother, Paechiyammal, said she felt that her prayers and her son’s intense training had not let him down. She recalled doing daily-wage work and trying to provide whatever support she could for his sporting journey.
Paechiyammal said her son had travelled to countries including Japan, Malaysia and Australia and returned with seven medals in earlier competitions. She also noted that he finished sixth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and missed competition in 2022 due to a leg injury.
Describing the family’s struggles, she said Raja’s father works as a roadman, while she works in a match factory and often takes two shifts. She said she pushed herself to improve her children’s future and encouraged her son to continue training, adding that the silver medal brought her overwhelming joy.
