Odisha’s Hrudananda Das Shines with Silver, Bronze at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship

Odisha’s weightlifting talent shone brightly at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship held in Suva, Fiji, as Hrudananda Das clinched both silver and bronze medals in the 89 kg category on Thursday. The 17-year-old, competing in both the youth and junior categories, lifted a total of 299 kg—129 kg in snatch and 170 kg in clean & jerk.

Das, a trainee at the Odisha-Tenvic Weightlifting HPC’s Dhenkanal Sub-Centre, earned silver in the youth category and bronze in the junior section. Having trained intensively at the national camp in Patiala over the past six months, Das’s achievements add to his growing list of international accolades. Previously, he had won a gold medal in the 73 kg category at the last Commonwealth Championship held in Greater Noida.

Hrudananda Das is the second lifter from the Dhenkanal Sub-Centre to secure medals at this year’s championship. His performance follows that of Swayamjit Prasad Sahoo, who won gold in the youth boys’ 67 kg event just a day earlier. Collectively, Odisha’s four weightlifters have contributed six medals, including four golds, to India’s tally at the 2024 Fiji Commonwealth Championship. On the opening day, Mina Santa captured two golds and one silver in the girls’ 55 kg category, while Jyoshna Sabar won gold in the girls’ 40 kg class.

Das’s father, Harihar Das, is an auto driver, and his mother, Golap Das, is a housewife. Hrudananda trains under HPC Sub-Centre head coach Gopal Krushna Das, who believes the young lifter has significant potential for future success at the Asian and World championships. Das has already started receiving job offers from various public sector enterprises, which will aid him in supporting his family and focusing on his weightlifting career.

In other noteworthy performances, Indian weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu set a Commonwealth record to clinch gold in the men’s 81 kg junior category with a total lift of 326 kg (147 kg in snatch and 179 kg in clean & jerk), while compatriot Sairaj Pardeshi secured gold in the youth section and silver in the junior category. Lalruatfela also impressed by winning silver in the men’s 89 kg event with a total of 301 kg.