Vizianagaram, July 28 -- Andhra Pradesh Minister Kondapalli Srinivas hailed Valluri Ajaya Babu's Commonwealth Games 2026 silver medal as a proud moment for Vizianagaram and the state.

The 22-year-old from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh delivered a spirited performance to finish second with a total lift of 330kg (149kg in snatch and 181kg in clean and jerk), falling just one kilogram short of Malaysia's Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who claimed gold with 331kg after producing a Games-record clean and jerk lift of 184kg.

Srinivas also highlighted the rich weightlifting tradition of Ajaya's native Kondavelagada village and credited the continued promotion of the sport by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and senior leader Pusapati Asho...