India’s young weightlifting talent Maharajan Arumugapandian produced a strong performance at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, securing a silver medal in the boys’ 60kg category and adding another significant achievement to his rapidly developing career.
The 17-year-old Indian lifter finished with a combined total of 256kg, putting him second in a tightly contested field. His performance was built around a 114kg snatch and 142kg clean & jerk, with the latter standing out as one of the biggest moments of his competition.
The Numbers That Delivered Silver
Category: Boys’ 60kg
Snatch: 114kg
Clean & Jerk: 142kg
Total: 256kg
Overall Result: Silver medal
Clean & Jerk: 142kg recorded as an Asian Youth Record/OCA Youth Games Best Mark in the official results
Strong Start in the Snatch
Arumugapandian began his campaign with a successful 114kg snatch, which put him firmly among the leading contenders.
China’s Chen Xunfa eventually established the advantage in the discipline with a 120kg lift. The Chinese lifter went on to finish with a 261kg aggregate, leaving Arumugapandian five kilograms behind in the overall standings.
Despite the deficit, the Indian teenager remained within striking distance as the competition moved to the clean & jerk.
142kg Clean & Jerk Becomes the Highlight
The clean & jerk was where Arumugapandian made his biggest statement.
The Indian successfully lifted 142kg, a performance that was not merely crucial to his silver medal but was also recognised in the official results as an Asian Youth Record and OCA Youth Games Best Mark.
The battle was particularly intense in the closing stages. Indonesia’s Muhamad Rijal Abdilah eventually produced a 143kg clean & jerk to move ahead, while China’s Chen had earlier registered 141kg. Arumugapandian’s 142kg therefore placed him directly between the two in the clean & jerk standings.
A Podium Finish Built on Consistency
The final standings showed Chen Xunfa at the top with 261kg, followed by Arumugapandian with 256kg. Abdilah’s overall total was lower, despite his competition-winning 143kg clean & jerk, highlighting how important the snatch phase was to the final medal outcome.
For Arumugapandian, the result was more than simply a silver medal. It demonstrated that he could handle pressure on a major international stage and respond strongly when the competition tightened.
Another Sign of India’s Weightlifting Depth
Arumugapandian’s performance also added to an encouraging campaign for India’s young weightlifters at the Asian Youth Games.
His silver came alongside a landmark performance from fellow Indian lifter Priteesmita Bhoi, who won gold in the girls’ 44kg category and set a world youth record in the clean & jerk with a 92kg lift.
Arumugapandian’s own rise had already been gathering momentum before Bahrain. At the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, he won the junior men’s 60kg title with a 254kg total, lifting 114kg in snatch and 140kg in clean & jerk.
The two performances underline a clear trend: the young Indian is not simply collecting medals but steadily raising his competitive standards.
Silver Today, A Bigger Future Ahead
Arumugapandian may have finished behind Chen Xunfa in the final 60kg standings, but his 142kg clean & jerk showed that he already possesses the strength to challenge the best young lifters in Asia.
At just 17, the Indian’s progress from a 254kg Commonwealth junior-winning total to a 256kg Asian Youth Games silver-medal performance offers an encouraging glimpse of what could lie ahead.
For Indian weightlifting, his Bahrain performance is another reason to keep an eye on the next generation.
Key Takeaways
Maharajan Arumugapandian won silver in the boys’ 60kg category at the 2025 Asian Youth Games.
He registered 114kg in snatch and 142kg in clean & jerk.
His 256kg total secured second place overall.
His 142kg clean & jerk was recognised as an Asian Youth Record/OCA Youth Games Best Mark in the official results.
China’s Chen Xunfa won gold with 261kg.
Arumugapandian had earlier won the 2025 Commonwealth Junior 60kg title with a 254kg total.
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