At just 18 years of age, Sairaj Pardeshi is quickly emerging as one of India’s brightest weightlifting prospects.
His recent performances have not only shattered national records but also raised eyebrows across the weightlifting community why is a lifter of such calibre not yet representing India in the senior division? The youngster, weighing in at 86.67 kg in the men’s 88 kg category, delivered a flawless performance: six out of six lifts, with a 157 kg snatch and a 191 kg clean & jerk, for a total of 348 kg. What makes this effort remarkable is that it eclipsed the winning total of the senior gold medallist Kennedy, who managed 347 kg.
For a teenager to outlift the senior champion at the Commonwealth Championships is no ordinary feat. It naturally raises the question—should Pardeshi already be tested at the highest senior level?
Pardeshi’s rise has been steady and impressive. At the Asian Junior Championships earlier this year, he managed a 152 kg snatch and a 186 kg clean & jerk, totalling 338 kg to claim bronze. That itself was a massive jump from his 312 kg effort in the 81 kg category, showing how the move up to 88 kg has unlocked more strength and potential. The story becomes even more compelling when we look at national records. His 157 kg snatch and 348 kg total are already superior to the current senior national records in the 89 kg class (150 kg in snatch and 337 kg total).
It means that Pardeshi, while still competing as a junior, is producing lifts beyond India’s officially recognized best in the senior division.
Such progress is rare. At the Asian Youth Championships last year, Pardeshi had already announced himself by winning gold in the 81 kg category with 303 kg. Earlier, he had created a new national record at the Khelo India Youth Games 2024, lifting 286 kg in the 81 kg category. His trajectory reflects not just talent but the discipline of an athlete adapting to higher divisions while continuing to improve with every outing.
The Commonwealth Championships performance in the 88 kg junior category was arguably Pardeshi’s biggest statement yet. Not only did he win gold, but his total also outclassed the senior champion. Even more fascinating is the fact that Pardeshi competed 1.3 kg under the division cap, weighing only 86.67 kg. With full utilisation of the 88 kg weight class, experts believe he could have gone beyond 350 kg. That kind of number puts him firmly on the radar as a future world-class lifter. For context, his total is already competitive at the World Junior level and would make him a serious challenger at the World Championships if he were in the senior draw.
Why Isn’t He in the Senior Squad?
The obvious question is why Pardeshi, despite these numbers, was not selected in India’s senior World Championship squad. The answer lies in the selection system, timing, and the federation’s cautious approach with young talent.
- Selection Timeline – Squads for major senior competitions like the World Championships are often finalised months in advance, based on trials, ranking points, and past performances. Pardeshi’s latest big leap came after those decisions were made.
- Age and Development Pathway – At just 18, Pardeshi is still classified as a junior. The federation may prefer to let him gain more international experience in youth and junior events before exposing him to the extreme pressure of senior championships. Weightlifting careers can span a decade or more, and early burnout is a risk if progression isn’t managed carefully.
- Weight Category Adjustment – Pardeshi has only recently shifted to the 88 kg category. While the early results are spectacular, selectors may want to see stability in bodyweight, technique, and injury management before fully committing him to the senior squad.
- Training Focus at NCOE – Pardeshi is currently training at the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) in Patiala, which often prioritises athlete development over immediate senior competition exposure. His coaches may be planning a long-term peak cycle aimed at the 2027 World Championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
While the federation’s caution has merit, there is also a strong case to fast-track Pardeshi into the senior fold. His lifts are not just competitive nationally; they are beginning to touch international benchmarks. If India is serious about building a medal-contending squad for Los Angeles 2028, lifters like Pardeshi need exposure to senior-level competition early enough to adjust. By not including him in senior squads despite his record-breaking numbers, India risks delaying his development against the very competition he will eventually need to beat.
Other nations, particularly in Asia, have shown a willingness to blood teenagers at the senior level if their numbers justify it.
To put Pardeshi’s trajectory in perspective, very few Indian lifters at 18 have been lifting at this level. His improvement rate is staggering a 10 kg jump in total since the Asian Juniors. If that trend continues, Pardeshi could soon be India’s first lifter capable of challenging consistently for World and Olympic medals in the men’s middleweight categories. His ability to produce six clean lifts under pressure also speaks volumes about his temperament. Many young lifters struggle with consistency in competition, but Pardeshi’s perfect series at the Commonwealth Championships highlights both physical and mental maturity.
The immediate next steps for Pardeshi will likely involve the World Junior Championships, where he will be a strong medal contender. Continued improvements in both snatch and clean & jerk could soon place him among the top 10 at the senior global level. For India, the key will be ensuring he is managed well—through structured progression, injury prevention, and exposure to international platforms. The federation must strike the balance between protecting a young athlete and not holding back a generational talent.
Sairaj Pardeshi’s 348 kg total at just 18 years of age is a watershed moment for Indian weightlifting. It not only signals the arrival of a world-class prospect but also raises urgent questions about selection policies and pathways to the senior level. While his absence from the senior squad for now may be explained by timing and long-term planning, Pardeshi’s numbers suggest that India cannot afford to keep him away from the biggest stage for too long. With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics in sight, nurturing and backing such talent could be the difference between participation and podiums.
For now, though, Pardeshi remains the story of the season an 18-year-old who has already outlifted senior national records and left fans wondering: if he’s this good now, what heights can he reach in the next three years?
