CWG 2026: Gyaneshwari Yadav bags silver in women’s 53kg weightlifting after delivering an outstanding performance on her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow. The 23-year-old Indian weightlifter won the silver medal in the women’s 53kg category following a closely contested battle with Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih.
The medal also strengthened India’s campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026, taking the country’s overall tally to five medals, including one gold, three silver and one bronze.
CWG 2026: Gyaneshwari Yadav bags silver in women’s 53kg weightlifting after record-breaking effort
Representing India in her maiden Commonwealth Games appearance, Gyaneshwari Yadav showcased remarkable determination throughout the competition. The athlete from Chhattisgarh remained in contention for the gold medal until the very last lift, setting multiple Games records during an intense contest.
Her consistent performance in both the snatch and clean and jerk events kept the pressure on Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih, making the final moments of the competition highly competitive.
Snatch round puts Gyaneshwari Yadav in medal contention
Gyaneshwari started the snatch event with a successful lift of 82kg before improving to 85kg on her second attempt. She then lifted 88kg in her final attempt, creating a new Commonwealth Games record in the women’s 53kg category.
The impressive effort briefly placed her in a strong position before Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih answered with a record-breaking 93kg snatch to move ahead.
Snatch Attempts
| Attempt | Weight Lifted |
|---|---|
| First | 82kg |
| Second | 85kg |
| Third | 88kg (Commonwealth Games Record) |
Clean and jerk performance keeps gold medal hopes alive
Gyaneshwari opened the clean and jerk section with a successful 103kg lift, taking her combined total to 191kg and setting another Games record.
She then lifted 107kg to improve her own mark and narrow the gap with Didih. With the gold medal still within reach, Gyaneshwari attempted 111kg in her final lift.
She successfully completed the 111kg lift, taking her total to 199kg. The effort created another Games and Commonwealth record, highlighting her impressive debut performance.
CWG 2026: Gyaneshwari Yadav bags silver in women’s 53kg weightlifting with 199kg total
Despite Gyaneshwari’s record-setting total, Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih responded with a successful 113kg clean and jerk. That lift helped Didih finish with a total of 206kg and secure the gold medal.
Canada’s Rebeka Groulx claimed the bronze medal after registering a total lift of 178kg.
Women’s 53kg Medal Winners
| Position | Athlete | Country | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Onome Omolola Didih | Nigeria | 206kg |
| Silver | Gyaneshwari Yadav | India | 199kg |
| Bronze | Rebeka Groulx | Canada | 178kg |
Important Facts
- Gyaneshwari Yadav won silver in the women’s 53kg category.
- This was her Commonwealth Games debut.
- She set multiple Commonwealth Games records during the competition.
- Her final total was 199kg.
- India’s medal tally increased to five medals.
- Onome Omolola Didih won gold with a total of 206kg.
- Rebeka Groulx secured the bronze medal with 178kg.
Career milestone for Gyaneshwari Yadav
The silver medal represents an important achievement in Gyaneshwari Yadav’s career. The Chhattisgarh athlete had previously competed in the 49kg weight category before moving up to 53kg, acknowledging the challenge of competing alongside India’s Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu in the lower division.
Her debut performance in Glasgow demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level while delivering record-breaking lifts throughout the event.
Conclusion
CWG 2026: Gyaneshwari Yadav bags silver in women’s 53kg weightlifting after an impressive debut performance marked by determination and multiple record-breaking lifts. Although Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih secured the gold medal, Gyaneshwari’s silver and her total lift of 199kg stand out as one of India’s major achievements at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
