Lovepreet Singh Claims Commonwealth Games Silver After Thrilling Battle for Gold
Lovepreet Singh won silver in the men's +110kg weightlifting event at the Commonwealth Games 2026, missing gold by just 1kg after a Games Record snatch.
India's Lovepreet Singh delivered one of the standout performances of the Commonwealth Games 2026, clinching the silver medal in the men's +110kg weightlifting event after a dramatic battle with New Zealand's David Liti that went down to the final lifts.
The 28-year-old from Amritsar finished with a combined total of 388kg, improving on the bronze medal he won at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games four years ago. For much of the contest, Lovepreet looked on course for gold before Liti produced a sensational 223kg clean and jerk, setting a new Commonwealth Games record to snatch the title by a single kilogram.
While the gold narrowly slipped away, Lovepreet's silver represents another significant achievement for Indian weightlifting and showcased his remarkable consistency on one of the biggest stages.
The men's +110kg final began with nine lifters competing for the Commonwealth title, and Lovepreet entered the competition among the favourites after his podium finish in Birmingham.
The Indian made an assured start with a successful opening snatch of 168 kg, immediately placing himself among the leading contenders. He followed it up with another confident lift of 173 kg, positioning himself strongly before attempting an even bigger weight. One of the biggest moments early in the competition came when former Commonwealth champion Sanele Mao of Samoa failed all three attempts at 175 kg, crashing out of the competition without registering a successful lift.
The unexpected exit of one of the pre-tournament favourites significantly altered the medal race and boosted Lovepreet's chances of climbing the podium.
With confidence growing, Lovepreet stepped onto the platform for his third snatch attempt. The Indian successfully lifted 176kg, setting a new Commonwealth Games record in the snatch and moving into first place. The record-breaking effort also handed him a healthy 10kg advantage over New Zealand's David Liti, who finished the snatch phase in second place with 166kg.
Holding such a sizeable lead, entering the clean and jerk, placed Lovepreet in a commanding position, with the gold medal appearing firmly within reach.
The clean and jerk competition began exactly as Lovepreet would have hoped. He confidently lifted 205kg in his opening attempt, maintaining his overall lead. Liti responded immediately with a successful 207kg lift, trimming the gap slightly but still trailing the Indian by eight kilograms in the overall standings. The contest was beginning to develop into a fascinating duel between two experienced lifters, with both athletes matching each other lift for lift.
The Indian then produced another outstanding lift. His second clean and jerk attempt of 212kg was executed with remarkable composure, taking his overall total to 388kg and extending his lead over Liti to 15 kilograms. At that stage, the gold medal seemed firmly within Lovepreet's grasp.
Liti, however, responded with a bold tactical decision. Instead of opting for a smaller increase, the New Zealander requested 223kg for his second attempt—a lift that would not only set a new Commonwealth Games record in the clean and jerk but also move him ahead of Lovepreet by the slimmest of margins.
Before Liti's decisive attempt, Lovepreet chose to increase his final clean and jerk weight to 217kg. Had he succeeded, the Indian would have placed enormous pressure on the New Zealander. Unfortunately, the attempt proved just beyond his reach, and the lift was ruled unsuccessful.
That left the door open for Liti. The experienced New Zealander rose to the occasion magnificently, producing a sensational 223kg clean and jerk, breaking the Commonwealth Games record and taking his overall total to 389kg.
The successful lift moved him just one kilogram ahead of Lovepreet and secured the gold medal in dramatic fashion.
Having achieved the winning total, Liti chose to forgo his third and final attempt, bringing the competition to a close.
Although the result may have left Lovepreet wondering what might have been, the silver medal represents a significant step forward in his Commonwealth Games career. After winning bronze in Birmingham in 2022, the Indian has now upgraded to silver, demonstrating continued progress at the international level. His Games-record snatch of 176kg and overall total of 388kg underline the consistency and strength that have made him one of India's leading heavyweight lifters.
More importantly, the performance showed his ability to compete with the very best in the Commonwealth.
Weightlifting has once again proven to be one of India's most reliable medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games.
Lovepreet Singh's silver adds another medal to the country's tally and continues India's rich tradition in the sport, where Indian lifters have consistently challenged for podium finishes across multiple weight categories.
Although the gold ultimately went to David Liti after a remarkable final lift, Lovepreet's performance was one of determination, composure, and resilience. Setting a Games record in the snatch and pushing the eventual champion until the very last attempt highlighted just how close India came to another Commonwealth title.
For Lovepreet, the silver medal is not only an improvement on his previous Games performance but also another milestone in a career that continues to establish him among India's finest heavyweight weightlifters.
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