India’s young lifters continued their strong showing at the 2025 Asian Youth Games with Maharajan Arumugapandian delivering a brilliant performance to clinch two silver medals in the Boys’ 60 kg category, while Priteesmita Bhoi added a gold and a silver in the Girls’ 44 kg event, including a world youth record lift.
Competing in a highly competitive field, Maharajan Arumugapandian showed maturity beyond his years, lifting 114 kg in Snatch to finish second behind Chen Xunfa of China, who took gold with a best attempt of 117 kg. The 17-year-old Indian lifter displayed exceptional technique and poise under pressure, ensuring India got its first medal of the day in the Snatch segment.
In the Clean & Jerk, Maharajan lifted 142 kg, narrowly missing the gold by just 1 kilogram to Muhamad Abdilah of Indonesia, who set a new Asian Youth Record with a lift of 143 kg. Maharajan’s total of 256 kg (114 + 142) earned him another silver medal in the overall standings finishing behind Chen Xunfa’s combined total of 261 kg.
This result marks a consistent progression for the Tamil Nadu-based lifter, who had earlier lifted 114 kg in Snatch and 140 kg in Clean & Jerk at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in August. That performance had already hinted at his growing potential, and his showing in Tashkent has now solidified his reputation as one of India’s most promising youth lifters.
Speaking after his event, Maharajan expressed satisfaction with his improvement in Clean & Jerk and noted that his focus was on maintaining form rather than chasing numbers too early in his career. His composure and discipline throughout both segments stood out as hallmarks of a well-trained athlete with a long-term vision.
Priteesmita Bhoi Creates History in Girls’ 44 kg Category
Earlier, Priteesmita Bhoi gave India a sparkling start in the weightlifting events, capturing gold in Clean & Jerk and silver in Snatch in the Girls’ 44 kg category. The young lifter from Odisha lifted 66 kg in Snatch, finishing second in the first half of the competition, but came back strongly to dominate the Clean & Jerk stage. Priteesmita lifted 92 kg in her final Clean & Jerk attempt to secure the gold, setting a new World Youth Record (WYR) in the process. Her combined total of 158 kg placed her at the top of the standings, ahead of lifters from China and Thailand.
Her performance reflects India’s growing strength in women’s youth weightlifting an area that has seen steady improvement over the past few years, with strong showings at both continental and world youth levels.
The 2025 Asian Youth Games have featured a strong Indian contingent across several categories. According to the current schedule, India’s lifters are competing in both boys’ and girls’ divisions throughout the week:
October 26:Boys’ 56 kg – Dharmajyoti Dewgharia finished with a total lift of 231 kg (Snatch: 98 kg, Clean & Jerk: 133 kg), placing fifth overall in Clean & Jerk and ninth in Snatch.
October 27:Boys’ 60 kg – Maharajan Arumugapandian claimed two silvers with lifts of 114 kg (Snatch) and 142 kg (Clean & Jerk), total 256 kg.
October 27:Girls’ 44 kg – Priteesmita Bhoi won silver in Snatch (66 kg) and gold in Clean & Jerk (92 kg, WYR).
October 27:Girls’ 48 kg – Payal is set to compete later in the evening session.
October 28:Girls’ 63 kg – Tikimohini Mallik will represent India.
October 30:Boys’ 94 kg – Parv Choudhary; Girls’ 77 kg – Grishma Thorat will round off India’s campaign.
With multiple events still to come, India has already made an impressive mark early in the weightlifting competition, bagging four medals 1 gold, 3 silvers in the first two days.
The performances of Maharajan and Priteesmita underline a key trend Indian weightlifting’s depth at the youth level is stronger than ever. Both lifters represent the next generation of athletes benefiting from structured training programs under the Weightlifting Federation of India (WFI), which has increased exposure to international competition and focused on sports science-based preparation. For Maharajan, who has been training at the National Centre of Excellence in Chennai, the silver medals are a reward for months of consistent progress. For Priteesmita, who has already earned attention with her world record lift, the medals confirm her as a standout prospect for India’s women’s weightlifting.
As India’s young lifters continue to rise through the ranks, their performances in Tashkent serve as both a statement of progress and a promise of future success.
Medal Summary for India in Weightlifting (as of October 27, 2025):
Gold Priteesmita Bhoi – Clean & Jerk (Girls’ 44 kg) – 92 kg, World Youth Record
Silver Priteesmita Bhoi – Snatch (Girls’ 44 kg) – 66 kg
Silver Maharajan Arumugapandian – Snatch (Boys’ 60 kg) – 114 kg
Silver Maharajan Arumugapandian – Clean & Jerk (Boys’ 60 kg) – 142 kg
India’s young lifters have announced their arrival in style and with several events still remaining, the tricolor may well rise again before the week ends in Tashkent.
