Glasgow, 31 July (H.S.): India's star weightlifter Lovepreet Singh delivered an outstanding performance to win the silver medal in the men's +110kg super heavyweight category at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Competing at the Scottish Event Campus on Thursday, Lovepreet lifted a total of 388kg (176kg in the snatch and 212kg in the clean and jerk). New Zealand's David Andrew Liti claimed the gold medal by lifting a total of 389kg, edging the Indian by just one kilogram.

The 28-year-old Lovepreet, who had won a bronze medal in the 109kg category at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, looked even more dominant after moving up to the super heavyweight division. He successfully completed all three of his snatch attempts, lifting 168kg, 173kg, and finally 176kg, the latter setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the discipline.

The biggest turning point of the competition came when Samoa's Sanele Mao, widely regarded as the favourite for the gold medal, failed all three of his attempts at 175kg in the snatch and was eliminated from the contest. Lovepreet capitalised on the opportunity by successfully lifting 176kg, giving himself a 10kg lead at the end of the snatch event.

However, the contest took a dramatic turn during the clean and jerk. Lovepreet successfully lifted 212kg but failed in his attempt at 217kg. Meanwhile, New Zealand's David Liti produced a remarkable lift of 223kg to establish a new Commonwealth Games record in the clean and jerk. His combined total of 389kg secured the gold medal, after which he opted not to take his third attempt.

Although the gold medal slipped away by the narrowest possible margin of one kilogram, Lovepreet's performance was widely praised. Improving upon the bronze medal he won at Birmingham 2022, he concluded India's weightlifting campaign on a high by securing the silver medal after pushing the eventual champion all the way in a fiercely contested battle for gold.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar