Muthupandi Raja breaks three national records at National Weightlifting Championships 2024

Muthupandi Raja of Indian Railways performed briliiantly at the National Weightlifting Championships in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. He set new national records in the men’s 61kg category.

A dominant force in Indian weightlifting, Raja had previously won the gold medal in the last edition of the Championships with a total lift of 279kg. This year, he went a step further, improving his tally by 10kg, lifting a total of 289kg, and securing yet another gold medal, creating a new national record.

Muthupandi Raja’s remarkable performance at the ongoing National Championships was highlighted by his achievements in both the snatch and clean and jerk categories. In the snatch, he lifted 124kg, equaling the national record set by Rishikanta Singh.

In the clean and jerk, Raja set a new national record with a lift of 165kg, surpassing all previous benchmarks in the 61kg category. His overall total of 289kg in this category secured his gold and marked him as one of the country's most consistent and powerful lifters.

These achievements build on Muthupandi Raja’s previous success, including a gold medal in the 2019 and 2022 National Championships. He also finished fourth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which shows his long-standing dominance in Indian weightlifting.

This year’s National Weightlifting Championships brought together a high level of competition, with Raja proving his mettle again. His performance has established him as a leading contender in Indian weightlifting circles and potentially on the international stage, as he continues to raise the bar with each competition.

The event also featured Hampton Morris, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, who took the podium with a total lift of 298kg. Morris’ participation added to the competitiveness of the event.

However, Raja’s record-breaking lifts took center stage, as he outshined the competition, demonstrating his incredible strength and technique.

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Odisha weightlifters also impressed at the Championships apart from Muthupandi Raja

The Championship also saw impressive performances from Odisha weightlifters. Mina Santa bagged two gold medals in the Girls' 55kg Youth and Junior categories while Sneha Soren won a silver medal in the overall category and gold in the Inter-State Women's 55kg senior category.

In addition, Sadananda Bariha earned a bronze medal by lifting a total of 249kg in the Boys' 61kg Youth category.

The National Weightlifting Championships have once again displayed immense talent in Indian weightlifting, with lifters like Muthupandi Raja and others setting new records as they secure their place among the country’s best athletes.