Heartbreak for India: Nirupama Devi Crashes Out of CWG Weightlifting After Costly Clean & Jerk Collapse

India's impressive run in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games suffered a painful setback as Nirupama Devi failed to register a total in the women's 63kg event, ending her campaign in heartbreaking fashion after missing all three of her clean and jerk attempts on Tuesday.

The Indian lifter began her competition with mixed fortunes in the snatch. After failing her opening attempt at 93kg, she recovered well to clear the same weight in her second lift. However, she could not improve further, missing 95kg on her final attempt. Her best effort of 93kg placed her fifth at the end of the snatch round, keeping her firmly in contention for a podium finish.

With several competitors closely matched, the clean and jerk was expected to decide the medals. Nirupama opened at 123kg, a weight comfortably below the 127kg she had successfully lifted at the National Championships earlier this year. But the lift proved elusive.

She failed her opening attempt and could not recover in the next two tries, resulting in a Did Not Finish (DNF) and ending her medal hopes in dramatic fashion.

The result was particularly disappointing given Nirupama's recent form. The 2025 Commonwealth Championships silver medallist had entered the Games with genuine expectations of adding another international medal to her resume.

While India endured disappointment, Canada's Maude Charron delivered another dominant performance to capture her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. The Tokyo Olympic champion set new Games records with 102kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk, finishing with a winning total of 232kg.

England's Sarah Davies Smale claimed the silver medal with a total of 217kg (95kg+122kg), while 17-year-old Femily-Crystie Notte of Nauru secured bronze with 216kg (100kg+116kg).

Despite Nirupama's setback, weightlifting continues to be India's strongest discipline at the Glasgow Games. Six of India's first 10 medals have come from the weightlifting arena, including one in para powerlifting, underlining the sport's significant contribution to the country's campaign.