Valluri Ajaya Babu will make his Commonwealth Games debut in the men’s 79kg category at Glasgow 2026. The Indian weightlifter has won medals at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships over the last few years and will now look to continue his family’s Commonwealth Games legacy. Early days Born on November 25, 2004, in Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, Valluri comes from a family with a strong weightlifting background. He was introduced to the sport in 2015 by his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, a former international weightlifter who won bronze in the men’s 69kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Valluri’s journey is closely linked to the rich weightlifting tradition of northern Andhra Pradesh. Villages such as Kondavelagada, Amadalavalasa and Godalam have produced several national and international weightlifters through village gyms, dedicated coaches and a strong sporting culture. Kondavelagada itself has produced around 20 national and 13 international weightlifters, with Valluri now carrying that tradition forward. Rise through the ranks Valluri made his breakthrough at the 2023 Khelo India Youth Games, where he won gold …