In the Norwegian town of Førde, far from India’s usual training bases and fanfare, Muthupandi Raja quietly produced one of the more encouraging performances for Indian weightlifting this year.
Competing in the men’s 65 kg category at the 2025 IWF World Weightlifting Championships, the 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu lifted a combined total of 299 kg his best-ever total on the international stage to finish 9th overall in a competitive field.
For most observers, a ninth-place finish might appear modest. But within India’s weightlifting circles, this performance carries deeper significance. It marks a return to form for an athlete who has spent years outside the global circuit, and it signals that India may once again have lifters capable of matching Asia’s best in the mid-weight categories.
A Career-Defining Total
Raja’s performance in Førde came with lifts of 130 kg in Snatch and 169 kg in Clean & Jerk, taking his combined total to 299 kg a 3 kg improvement from his previous best of 296 kg, achieved at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad just a month ago.
For context, Raja has come a long way since his early days in the 61 kg category, when his totals hovered around the 260 kg mark. The move to 65 kg and the added strength that came with it has paid off handsomely. In Førde, he looked composed through most of his lifts, managing two good snatches and two successful clean & jerks before narrowly missing his final attempt at 172 kg.
What made the performance impressive wasn’t just the total, but the consistency. Raja has competed twice in two months first at the Commonwealths, then at Worlds something that tests even seasoned professionals. Maintaining peak form for back-to-back international events requires both physical precision and mental endurance.
The final leaderboard showed Raja in ninth place overall, but a closer look reveals how competitive he was within Asia. Among the Asian lifters in his session, he ranked fourth, behind athletes from Indonesia, Korea, and Uzbekistan all nations with strong traditions in Olympic lifting.
Importantly, China, the sport’s dominant power, did not field a lifter in this category. Even so, the margins separating Raja from the Asian medal bracket were small. The World Record standards in this category 148 kg Snatch, 181 kg Clean & Jerk, and 324 kg Total underline just how demanding the 65 kg class is. Raja’s 299 kg is a clear step forward toward bridging that elite gap.
For India, which hasn’t seen a male lifter near the global top-five since Sathish Sivalingam’s Commonwealth dominance, Raja’s trajectory offers a glimmer of hope. His control on the clean was sharp, his jerk timing crisp, and while his “soft elbows” remain an area to refine, his bar speed and extension looked markedly improved compared to last season.
Raja’s performance was not flawless, and he’d likely be the first to admit it. His elbow lockout during the snatch still invites scrutiny from referees a technical issue that could cost precious kilos at higher competitions. His jerk recovery, while powerful, showed signs of fatigue by the third attempt.
Yet, what’s encouraging is his ability to adjust under pressure. After missing his second snatch at 132 kg, he dropped the weight slightly and nailed his 130 kg attempt cleanly, choosing control over bravado. In weightlifting, maturity often matters as much as might.
While Raja was the headline, he wasn’t alone on the platform in Norway.
In the men’s 60 kg, Rishikanta Chanambam finished 11th among 22 lifters with a total of 269 kg (117 + 152). His effort was steady, if not spectacular, and continues his progress after transitioning to senior-level lifting earlier this year.
In the women’s 58 kg category, Bindyarani Devi, one of India’s more experienced names, managed 197 kg (85 + 112). While below her personal best, it was a consistent showing given the quick turnaround from the Commonwealth event.
Collectively, India’s participation at both the Commonwealth and World Championships within just eight weeks is no small feat. The scheduling allowed the federation to test endurance and adaptability crucial for athletes preparing for two marquee events in 2026: the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The next 12 months will be crucial for Raja and India’s weightlifting program.
The Commonwealth Games, historically India’s strongest platform, return next year, followed by the Asian Games, where the competition is far stiffer.
Raja’s 299 kg total puts him in contention for a Commonwealth medal, but he will need to add at least 10–12 kg more to his total to challenge for a podium at the Asian Games, where lifters from Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Korea routinely cross the 310–315 kg mark.
That will require not just strength gains, but technical refinement particularly in lockout stability and jerk drive. His recovery between peaks will also need careful planning; as one coach put it, “Two big peaks in 60 days is brutal. Next season needs a smarter taper.”
A Symbol of India’s Steady Rebuild
For now, Muthupandi Raja’s 299 kg may not make international headlines. But it marks something equally valuable India’s quiet return to competitive relevance in global men’s weightlifting.
He’s not yet lifting with the swagger of the Chinese or the explosiveness of the Indonesians, but he’s learning, improving, and most importantly staying on the platform.
And in a sport where patience defines greatness, that might be the strongest lift of all.
