GLASGOW — India’s Lovepreet Singh delivered a masterclass in heavy powerlifting on Thursday, breaking the Commonwealth Games snatch record before coming agonizingly close to gold in a thrilling men’s +110kg weightlifting final.
The 28-year-old weightlifter accumulated a total lift of 388kg (176kg in snatch and 212kg in clean and jerk), finishing just a single kilogram behind New Zealand's David Andrew Liti, who snatched gold with a total of 389kg (166kg + 223kg). England’s Andrew Griffith took bronze with a distant 356kg.
Lovepreet’s silver upgraded his bronze finish from the previous edition in Birmingham, ending India's weightlifting campaign in Glasgow on a high note. The Indian weightlifting contingent concluded the Games with an impressive overall haul of eight medals—comprising one gold, six silver, and one bronze.
Record-Breaking Dominance in the Snatch
The Punjab powerhouse was in supreme form right from the opening round of the snatch segment. He began with a smooth lift of 168kg, comfortably raised the weight to 173kg on his second attempt, and then electrified the arena by lifting a flawless 176kg on his third attempt to establish a new Commonwealth Games snatch record.
His phenomenal performance gave him a commanding 10kg lead heading into the clean and jerk section. His position as gold favorite was further reinforced when pre-tournament contender Sanele Mao of Samoa bowed out early after failing all three attempts at 175kg in the snatch.
Dramatic Clean and Jerk Decider
The battle for gold reached a crescendo in the clean and jerk section as New Zealand's Liti mounted an intense comeback. After Liti reduced the overall deficit with an opening lift of 207kg, Lovepreet matched his personal best of 212kg on his second attempt to maintain his lead.
Spurred on by roaring chants of "Come on Jatta" from Indian supporters in the stands, Lovepreet made a high-stakes call for his final lift—attempting 217kg to lock in the gold and break the total record. Though he successfully cleaned the barbell onto his shoulders, he couldn't generate enough momentum to complete the jerk overhead.
Capitalizing on the narrow opening, Liti returned to the platform and executed a massive 223kg lift—a new Commonwealth Games clean and jerk record—stealing the gold medal by just 1kg.
"I thought I would win gold after the snatch round, but it was up to god. I am a little disappointed that I couldn't lock in that final attempt in clean and jerk because I have lifted more than that in training," Lovepreet reflected after receiving his silver medal.
From Bal Sikander to the Global Stage
Lovepreet’s path to the Commonwealth podium reflects years of sheer determination amidst hardship. Hailing from Bal Sikander, a small village in Punjab's border district of Amritsar, he was raised in a modest household where his father worked as a tailor and his grandfather sold vegetables to support the family.
Recognizing his raw natural power, his family encouraged him to take up sports instead of entering the family tailoring trade. Lovepreet picked up his first barbell at age 13 at the local DAV Ground in Amritsar, steadily climbing the ranks to establish himself as one of India's premier heavyweight lifters.
