Bedabrat Bharali Clinches Men’s 79kg National Title After Fierce Snatch Battle at IWF India Nationals

What began as a brilliant snatch session turned into a tactical duel, and in the end, it was young Assamese lifter Bedabrat Bharali who emerged national champion with a personal-best total of 329kg.

The men’s 79kg category at the Indian Weightlifting Federation Nationals delivered exactly what the sport promises at its highest level razor-thin margins, shifting momentum, and a championship decided in the final attempts of the clean and jerk.

A Snatch Session of Elite Quality

The tone was set early. Ajay Valluri opened confidently at 146kg in the snatch, showing sharp speed under the bar and secure lockout stability. He followed it up with 149kg and then capped his series with an impressive 152kg on his third attempt a lift that momentarily put him in command of the category.

Bharali was not far behind. He registered 148kg, positioning himself within striking distance. Achinta Sheuli, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion in the 73kg division competing up a category, lifted 147kg to stay in contention.

At the conclusion of the snatch phase, the leaderboard was tightly packed:

• Ajay Valluri – 152kg
• Bedabrat Bharali – 148kg
• Achinta Sheuli – 147kg

With just five kilograms separating the top three, the clean and jerk was always going to determine the outcome.

It was widely acknowledged before the second half began that both Valluri and Achinta traditionally display stronger proficiency in the snatch compared to the clean and jerk. That nuance shifted the competitive balance. If Bharali could capitalize on the clean and jerk historically one of his strengths the championship door would open.

Tactical Shift in the Clean & Jerk

The clean and jerk phase brought clarity and pressure.

Achinta, whose explosive style has defined his success in the 73kg class, posted 174kg. Combined with his 147kg snatch, he finished with a total of 321kg. It was a solid performance, but in a category where 325kg-plus was likely to be required, it left him vulnerable.

Ajay Valluri, who had led after snatch, needed a strong response. He managed 175kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a total of 327kg (152+175). On paper, that was competitive. In context, it left the door slightly ajar.

Having already positioned himself within four kilograms after the snatch, Bharali attacked the clean and jerk with authority. On his third attempt, he equalled his personal best with a massive 181kg lift a composed, technically secure effort that sealed the title.

His final total: 329kg.

It was enough.

A New Senior Champion Emerges

The final standings read:

1. Bedabrat Bharali – 329kg (148 + 181)
2. Ajay Valluri – 327kg (152 + 175)
3. Achinta Sheuli – 321kg (147 + 174)

Bharali’s 181kg clean and jerk not only secured him gold but demonstrated maturity under championship pressure. He entered the second half trailing Valluri by four kilograms. He left the platform two kilograms clear at the top.

The margin was narrow. The statement was clear.

Bharali’s progression has been steady, and this performance signals his arrival as a legitimate force in the 79kg category at senior level. While Valluri and Achinta brought pedigree and experience including Achinta’s Commonwealth Games credentials Bharali delivered when it mattered most. His total of 329kg, achieved with a personal-best clean and jerk, suggests that his ceiling is still rising. In domestic competition, that trajectory is significant. With India’s weightlifting structure increasingly competitive in the 79kg division, depth is becoming an asset rather than a concern.

The 79kg category has historically required balance athletes who can produce competitive numbers in both disciplines. The Nationals reinforced that narrative. Valluri’s snatch dominance was impressive. Achinta’s move up from 73kg remains a storyline worth tracking. But Bharali’s composure in the clean and jerk ultimately separated him from the field.

The session also underlined how small technical margins decide elite weightlifting contests. A missed attempt, a conservative call, or a two-kilogram adjustment can swing the podium.

The men’s 79kg contest at the IWF India Nationals was not just about totals. It was about timing, execution, and composure under pressure. In that equation, Bharali delivered the decisive lift. And with 329kg on the board, a new national champion stands at the top of Indian weightlifting’s 79kg division.