New Delhi: Sairaj Pardeshi, an 18-year-old Indian weightlifter, scripted history by clinching a record-shattering gold medal in the men’s junior 88kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship 2025 in Ahmedabad. Sairaj shattered multiple junior Commonwealth records en route to his gold-winning feat with an impressive total lift of 348kg.

Sairaj lifted 157kg in snatch and 191kg in the clean & jerk category to secure the top spot on the podium while breaking several records. The teenager made heads turn with his sensational performance at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship and has been tipped by many to become a future star in global weightlifting.

SAIRAJ PARDESHI WINS THE GOLD MEDAL AT THE COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 88KG🔥🔥🥇🥇

The 18-year-old lifter has lifted a total of 348 KG (157+191) in the Jr Category

To put things in perspective, the Sr NR in 89 KG is 337 KG (150, 188)

A great talent to watch out for

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Son of a scrap dealer who made India proud

18-year-old Sairaj, who is yet to complete his schooling, comes from a very humble background. He hails from Manmad, a small town in Maharashtra and is the son of a scrap dealer. Sairaj used to help his father in scrap dealing while pursuing his sporting ambitions. His journey has not been an easy one, as Sairaj’s family could barely support his journey initially.

The young weightlifter used to train with makeshift equipment under coach Pravin Vyavahare, before making it to the Sports Authority of India, where he started proper training. He joined SAI’s National Centre of Excellence in Aurangabad, where his hard work earned him his first gold medal at the Asian Youth & Junior Championships in Doha, where he finished on top of the podium with a total lift of 310kg.

Sairaj didn’t stop there as he went on to impress at the Commonwealth Youth Championships last year, where he won a gold and a silver medal, respectively, in the youth and senior categories. In Ahmedabad, his overall lift of 348kg left many awestruck as it would have been enough for the 18-year-old to secure a gold medal even in the senior category, where he would have beaten Canada’s Braydon Kennedy, who lifted 347kg in total.

While he has already attained significant success at the junior level and is determined to make giant strides to realise his dream of representing India at the highest level in weightlifting, Sairaj remains focused on academics. The teenager knows how to keep the balance between sports and academics and is confident about doing well in his 12th-grade examinations despite not having had enough time to prepare.

“I haven’t studied anything yet but I’m quite confident that I can clear the exams if I get 15 days for preparations,” said a confident Sairaj.