Daijiworld Media Network - Tashkent

Tashkent, Aug 10: Indian weightlifter Arumugapandian Maharajan clinched the silver medal in the men's 65-kg category at the Asian Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Maharajan produced a personal-best total of 285 kg, lifting 128 kg in the snatch and 157 kg in the clean and jerk.

Vietnam's Hoang Thach claimed the gold medal with a total lift of 291 kg, finishing six kilograms ahead of the Indian lifter.

The silver adds to Maharajan's growing record on the international junior circuit. The young Indian lifter had previously won gold in the 60-kg junior category at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, where he posted a total of 254 kg.

Maharajan also featured prominently at India's national championships earlier this year. Competing for SSCB, he won both the youth and junior titles in the men's 65-kg category at the IWLF National Championships in Modinagar.

The 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships are being held in Tashkent from August 7 to 14, with the competition bringing together young lifters from across Asia.

Maharajan's latest performance underlines his progress as one of India's promising young weightlifters, with his 285-kg total marking a significant improvement over his previous international performances.