I wish to fulfil my fathers dream of profitable a CWG gold: Ajaya Babu

With weightlifting in his blood, it’s no surprise that 20-year-old V. Ajaya Babu has labored his solution to turn into a two-time gold medallist in Commonwealth weightlifting championships.

Following in his father and worldwide lifter V. Srinivasa Rao’s footsteps, Ajaya took to weightlifting. Now, the promising Andhra Pradesh lifter – who not too long ago gained his second consecutive Commonwealth gold medal in Ahmedabad and earned a ticket to the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in males’s 79kg – desires to land a gold in Scotland and make Srinivasa Rao (a 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games bronze medallist in 56kg) proud.

Ajaya emerged as a number one lifter final yr when he claimed the titles in males’s 81kg senior and junior divisions on the Commonwealth championships in Fiji. He additionally gained gold within the Goa and Uttarakhand National Games in back-to-back editions and medalled within the National championships.

After stepping up his efficiency in a decrease weight class with Commonwealth information in snatch, clear and jerk and complete in Ahmedabad, Ajaya obtained a pat on his again from his idol, who eagerly watched his son’s efficiency from the stands. Ajaya took a while to talk to The Hindu about his journey up to now and targets sooner or later. Excerpts:

We know your father was additionally a weightlifter. And, he additionally competed and medalled within the 2010 Commonwealth Games. So, how did your journey begin?

My journey began with the 2010 Commonwealth Games, when my father gained the medal. After that I dreamt of changing into a weightlifter. I used to be very younger. I didn’t go to Delhi however I noticed my father reside on TV.

After that I began lifting round 2015. My father used to coach me and I used to go to the health club with him (in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh) and watch him practice.

Initially, I used to be not severe about lifting. I used to go to the health club and are available again.

But I used to comply with my father and after one time limit, I made a decision to turn into severe. I needed to do one thing in life, obtain one thing. I needed to realize greater than my father, do higher than what he did. That’s the way it began.

When did you turn into severe about weightlifting as a profession?

From Class 10, I began taking the game severely. And at the moment, my father additionally left the game. After that, he additionally targeted on me. In 2022, I gained gold medals within the National junior and youth championships after which I got here to the National camp at National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) Patiala. I proceed to coach over there.

Did your father ever put stress on you to do nicely in weightlifting?

No. Till now, he has not put any stress on me. If I inform him that I’m not capable of do lifting, I’m having ache and accidents, he says, ‘don’t fear, it occurs. Everyone goes by such occasions. You will do it.’ After that, every part turns into nice.

For how lengthy did he information you as a coach?

He guided me for 4 to 5 years throughout my early life. Until that point I had not turn into a National junior champion.

So, you have got certified for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and can compete there like your father. How large is the dream for you?

My father had gained a bronze medal at the moment. Since then, I’ve been nurturing a dream that I wish to get a gold within the Games. I wish to fulfil his dream, which he couldn’t do — profitable a gold.

How do you examine your father’s sport with that of yours?

My father’s sport was very robust. His clear and jerk was robust. In my sport, the clear and jerk is weak. My snatch is powerful, however his snatch was weak.

The weight classes are additionally totally different. He used to compete in 56kg whereas I’m competing in 79kg now.

Of each of you, whose sport had higher benefit?

He had extra benefits as he’s a lot stronger than me. I haven’t achieved as a lot as he has. I’ll obtain it sooner or later. I’ll strive as a lot as I can.

Is there any stress being the son of an completed lifter?

I don’t have that a lot stress. I do my lifting with a free thoughts.

What form of enchancment have you ever observed in your sport after becoming a member of the NCoE?

After coming to NCoE, I understood the actual approach of coaching at a National camp. It is totally different from how it’s exterior as a result of there’s plenty of doping (instances taking place) exterior and there’s no doping on the National camp. There is plenty of distinction. It is troublesome to carry out (nicely whereas being) contained in the camp.

I obtained the information of the right way to compete, the right way to handle time and competitors. My approach has additionally improved rather a lot.

What does your father say about your efficiency?

Sometimes he says that you’ve got executed nicely and you must do higher. We don’t talk about the game that a lot.

How far can you are taking your self on the worldwide stage?

I’ve to carry out nicely within the Commonwealth and Asian Games, after which assume past.

When you gained the gold medal within the Commonwealth championships in Fiji final yr, you competed in 81kg. Now you’re competing in 79kg. Was it troublesome to chop two kg?

In Fiji, I did 147kg in snatch and 179kg in clear and jerk. I’ve managed the decrease weight nicely. I had determined six months again, after the National Games, that I’d lose two kg and get set at 79 kg. I’ve already maintained the food regimen and now I don’t have any downside. When I misplaced weight for the primary time I felt that I used to be getting cramps and my physique was getting dehydrated. So I got here to know the right way to take care of the physique. Now I’m absolutely set on this weight.

In the final choice trials (on June 30), I did 155kg in snatch and 175kg in clear and jerk (within the new weight class). Here (after two months), it was higher within the competitors (snatch 152kg, clear and jerk 183kg, complete 335kg). I hope to maintain bettering.