Commonwealth Games 2026: Punjab Farmer’s Daughter Harjinder Kaur Wins Silver in Weightlifting

Harjinder Kaur, a weightlifter from Mehas village near Nabha in Punjab, brought pride to India by winning a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. As the results were announced around 1 a.m. Indian time, congratulatory messages began pouring in for her family in Nabha. Competing in the women’s 69kg category, Harjinder Kaur lifted a combined total of 227kg across the snatch and clean & jerk events to secure the silver medal. Canada’s Charlotte Simone claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 240kg, while Australia’s Naya Fabe Heyman finished third after lifting 218kg. Expressing his happiness over his daughter’s achievement, Harjinder’s father, Sahib Singh, thanked God and praised her years of dedication and hard work that led to the international success. President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Harjinder Kaur on winning the silver medal in the women’s 69kg weightlifting event at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026. In her message, the President said Harjinder’s outstanding performance had made the nation proud and wished her continued success in the future. According to Harjinder’s brother, Pritpal Singh, she had spoken to him just a few hours before stepping onto the competition platform. She confidently told him that she was in excellent form and was certain of winning either a gold or silver medal. Her confidence was reflected in her podium finish. Harjinder was recently honoured with the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award. Pritpal recalled that there was a time when people criticised the family for encouraging their daughter to pursue sports. However, the family remained committed to supporting her dreams despite the criticism. The family also faced severe financial challenges. Managing the expenses for Harjinder’s training, nutrition and travel to competitions was a constant struggle. Recognising her talent and determination, her father took loans to ensure she could continue her sporting journey. Her childhood was marked by perseverance and sacrifice. Harjinder cycled nearly five kilometres every day from Mehas village to Nabha to attend school. Recalling those days, Sahib Singh said her bicycle often got punctured, but instead of complaining, she quietly brought it home because she understood the family’s financial difficulties. Along with attending school, Harjinder helped her father with farming activities and also took care of livestock at home. Pritpal said her sporting journey began while she was studying in Class XI. She initially played kabaddi before her first coach, Paramjit Sharma, recognised her physical strength and encouraged her to participate in tug of war. She later transitioned to weightlifting. The shift to weightlifting was not easy. At one stage, Harjinder even considered quitting the sport because she feared it would change her physique. Her parents encouraged her to stay focused on her future and continue pursuing the sport she loved. Despite financial hardships, education always remained a priority for the family. Pritpal said their father consistently encouraged the children to study well regardless of their financial condition, assuring them that he would do everything possible to support both their education and their dreams. Harjinder’s passion for strength sports also has family roots. Her father, Sahib Singh, had participated in village-level weightlifting competitions during his younger days. Today, Harjinder is employed with the Income Tax Department, while her brother is also earning a livelihood. After years of struggle, the family has finally overcome financial hardship. Speaking emotionally, Sahib Singh said, “Now, I have no worries.”