Glasgow, July 29: In a remarkable display of strength, Indian weightlifter Harjinder Kaur secured a silver medal in the women’s 69 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 on Tuesday night.
Harjinder lifted a total of 227 kg, starting with a snatch of 101 kg and achieving her best in the clean and jerk with 126 kg. Canada’s Charlotte Simoneau claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 240 kg (108 kg snatch + 132 kg clean and jerk), while Australia’s Nya Phoebe Heyman took home the bronze with a total of 218 kg (97 kg + 121 kg).
Throughout the competition, Harjinder remained in contention for a medal, solidifying her second-place finish with her final lift of 126 kg in the clean and jerk.
This achievement marks India’s seventh medal in weightlifting, which includes one gold, five silvers, and one bronze. Mirabai Chanu won gold in the women’s 49 kg category. Silver medals were earned by Rishikanta Singh Chanu, Raja Muthupandi, Valluri Ajay Babu, Gyaneshwari Yadav, and Harjinder Kaur, while Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam secured the only bronze medal so far.
Born on October 14, 1996, in a farming family in Mehas village near Nabha, Punjab, Harjinder faced economic hardships from a young age. Growing up in a one-room house, her father struggled to fund her training. Despite these challenges, her rural upbringing laid the foundation for her athletic success.
Harjinder spent hours daily operating a heavy fodder-cutting machine, which inadvertently built incredible upper body strength and muscular power, proving to be her greatest asset on the lifting platform.
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