Indian weightlifter Sairaj Pardeshi has become the latest sensation in Indian sports, winning a gold medal and setting multiple records at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025. The 18-year-old, competing in the men's 88kg junior category, lifted an impressive total of 348 kg, including a 157 kg snatch and a 191 kg clean & jerk. His performance broke several junior Commonwealth records.
Hailing from Manmad, Maharashtra, Pardeshi's journey is a testament to his dedication and hard work. Coming from a humble background as the son of a scrap dealer, he began his training with makeshift equipment under the guidance of his first coach, Pravin Vyavahare. This foundation set him on a path to success, eventually leading him to the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Sambhaji Nagar, and later the national camp in Patiala.
Pardeshi's win in Ahmedabad is the latest in a series of accomplishments. In 2024, he won gold at the Asian Youth & Junior Championships in Doha, lifting a then-record 310 kg. He also secured a gold in the youth section and a silver in the senior category at the 2024 Commonwealth Youth, Junior and Senior Weightlifting Championships. Reflecting on his journey, Sairaj credited his coaches, including Vyavahare, DD Sharma, and Alakesh Baruah, for their pivotal roles in his development.
The Commonwealth Championships were a major success for India's weightlifters, who secured a total of seven medals on the penultimate day. In the same weight class as Sairaj, Hrudananda Das won the silver medal with a total lift of 317 kg. Other impressive performances included Hussain Shah, who won gold in the youth boys' category, and Parv Chaudhary, who set three records on his way to a gold in the 94kg weight class for both youth boys and junior men.
Sairaj is not the only lifter in his family; his elder siblings, Pooja and Jairaj, also pursued weightlifting. While their father, Rajesh, initially had reservations, he soon realized that sports could provide a bright future for his children. Sairaj, the youngest to take up the sport, turned out to be the most decorated, bringing home medals from both national and international competitions. His family's support has been a cornerstone of his success, with his father reportedly becoming emotional after Sairaj's medal ceremony in Doha.
Looking ahead, Sairaj has his sights set on the 2025 National Games, which he hopes to make "memorable" by finishing on the podium. His commitment is so strong that he plans to balance his training with his 12th-grade board examinations, for which he has chosen Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. "I haven't studied anything yet but I'm quite confident that I can clear the exams if I get 15 days for preparations," a confident Sairaj said.
