Nirupama Devi fails to finish in women’s 63kg weightlifting final

By Rohan Gupta — 28 July 2026 — 3 min read

Heartbreak for India in weightlifting

India‘s medal aspirations in the women’s 63kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 concluded without a total for Nirupama Devi. The lifter, who had previously secured a silver medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships, was unable to register a total score after failing all three attempts in the clean and jerk segment of the competition on Tuesday.

Despite a promising start in the snatch discipline, where she finished fifth, Nirupama Devi‘s performance in the clean and jerk proved challenging. Her inability to complete any lifts in this crucial section meant she did not record a total, thus ending her campaign without a ranking.

Snatch performance and clean and jerk struggles

The competition began with Nirupama Devi attempting 93kg in the snatch. Her initial lift was unsuccessful, but she managed to clear the same weight on her second attempt. She then tried to lift 95kg but was unable to complete it, concluding the snatch discipline with a best lift of 93kg. This effort positioned her in fifth place after the snatch, keeping her in contention for a medal ahead of the clean and jerk.

However, the clean and jerk section presented significant difficulties for the Indian athlete. She opened with an attempt at 123kg, a weight four kilograms less than the 127kg she had successfully lifted at the National Championships earlier in the year. Despite this, Nirupama Devi failed to complete the lift on all three of her attempts. This series of unsuccessful lifts prevented her from registering a total, leading to a ‘Did Not Finish’ (DNF) result.

Her previous silver medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships was achieved with a combined lift of 217kg, consisting of 91kg in snatch and 126kg in clean and jerk. This background had suggested she was well-placed to challenge for a podium finish at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

Dominance by other nations

While Nirupama Devi faced disappointment, other lifters showcased strong performances in the same weight category. Canada‘s Maude Charron demonstrated her dominance by setting new Commonwealth Games records in both disciplines. The Tokyo Olympic champion lifted 102kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk, achieving a record-breaking total of 232kg. This secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal.

England‘s Sarah Davies Smale earned the silver medal with a total of 217kg, comprising a 95kg snatch and a 122kg clean and jerk. The bronze medal went to Femily-Crystie Notte of Nauru, who achieved a total of 216kg with a 100kg snatch and a 116kg clean and jerk. Femily-Crystie Notte had been in the lead with a total lift of 213kg across snatch and clean and jerk sections at one point during the competition.

Despite Nirupama Devi‘s outcome, weightlifting has been a strong sport for India at the Commonwealth Games 2026. Six of the country’s ten medals so far in the competition have come from weightlifting events.

The day’s events also included other Indian athletes in action. Boxer Preeti Pawar had a chance to secure a bronze medal. Other athletes like Gulveer Singh in the men’s 10,000m final and Pooja Singh in the women’s high jump final were also scheduled to compete. In swimming, Srihari Nataraj advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s 100m backstroke heats, while Sajan Prakash failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the men’s 50m butterfly heats.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com