Bhubaneswar: India topped the table at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025, claiming 35 medals including 24 gold.
Odisha’s female weightlifters excelled during the week-long meet which concluded in Ahmedabad on Saturday, winning 4 medals including 4 gold. The tally increased to 5, thanks to Hrudananda Das’ silver.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed Odisha girls’ performance in Ahmedabad as the ‘icing on the cake’.
“With a total of 35 medals, including 24 Golds across categories, India emerged as the undisputed leader at the #CWC2025. Stellar performances from athletes from Odisha, particularly girls was the icing on the cake. The remarkable performances will make every Indian proud. Preetismita Bhoi, Mina Santa, Bidusmita Bhoi and Sneha Soren not just contributed to India’s strong medal haul they also showcased why Odisha is emerging as a prominent hub of weightlifting talent,” Pradhan posted on X.
He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “initiatives for transforming India into a sporting nation coupled with focused efforts of the Odisha Govt towards popularising sports as well as identifying and nurturing talent is bearing fruit. It is a shining example of how holistic and ‘whole-of-the-nation’ approaches can transform lives and convert talent into medals.”
Preetismita Bhoi, Mina Santa and Bidusmita Bhoi bagged gold medals, while Sneha Soren and Hrudananda earned a silver each.
Tikimohini Mallik narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth in her event.