Telugu athlete repeats father’s glory at Common Wealth Games

The Indian contingent is performing very well at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Indian athletes have already won several medals across different sports, with weightlifters showing outstanding skill and bringing high honours to the country.

Amid this impressive run, one Telugu athlete has scripted history. Weightlifter Valluri Ajaya Babu, who hails from a small village of Viziangaram district in AP, has won a silver medal in the men’s 79kg category.

The 22-year-old athlete lifted a total weight of 330 kg to get the second spot. He lifted 149 kg in the snatch round and 181 kg in the clean and jerk round.

Coincidentally, his father Valluri Srinivasa Rao, won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. By winning a silver medal, Ajaya Babu has emulated his father’s glory and grabbed the headlines. It is quite rare that a father – son duo won medal in the same category of sports.

After winning the medal, Ajaya Babu expressed both joy and small disappointment for missing the gold by a small margin. He dedicated his silver medal to his father, his coaches, and the nation.