Pride of Chhattisgarh: CM Vishnu Deo congratulates Gyaneshwari on CWG medal

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav after she won a silver medal in the women’s 53 kg event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Chief Minister said that Yadav’s achievement has made Chhattisgarh and the country proud and will encourage more youngsters to take up sports.

The 23-year-old from Rajnandgaon produced the best performance of her career finished second with a total lift of 199 kg. In a statement issued on Monday evening, Sai lauded Yadav’s determination and said her success reflected the sporting talent emerging from the state.

“The daughter of Rajnandgaon has proved that talent, when backed by dedication, discipline and relentless hard work, can achieve success even on the international stage,” said Sai.

“For Gyaneshwari Yadav, this is not just a personal achievement but a tribute to the talent, hard work and determination of the people of Chhattisgarh. Our aim is to create an environment where the youth of Chhattisgarh can excel in national and international competitions and bring laurels to the state and the country,” he added.

Sai also wished Yadav success in future competitions and said he is confident that he will continue to bring glory to India and Chhattisgarh. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, who also holds the sports and youth welfare portfolio, congratulated the weightlifter in a post on social media, calling her silver medal a proud moment for the state and the nation.

GYANESHWARI’S CAREER BEST EFFORTS

Yadav produced one of the most outstanding performances of the weightlifting competition when she equaled her personal best of 88 kg in the clean and jerk and then lifted a personal best of 111 kg in the shot put. Her total of 199kg secured the silver medal behind Nigeria’s Onome Omolola Didih, who won gold with a Commonwealth Games record total of 206kg.

The Indian briefly held the record at the Commonwealth Games after her successful lift of 111kg, but Didih countered with 113kg in her final attempt to regain it. Even so, Yadav left Glasgow with new personal bests in both the clean, jerk and total.

A BOOST FOR CHHATTISGARH

Sai said the state government would continue to strengthen its sports ecosystem by improving infrastructure, training facilities and supporting athletes. He added that the aim was to create more opportunities for talented youngsters from Chhattisgarh to succeed at the highest level.

Echoing the Chief Minister’s sentiments, Arun Sao said that Yadav’s dedication and perseverance had become a source of inspiration for budding sportspersons, especially young women across the state.

– The end

Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

Jul 28, 2026 12:31 PM IST