Chandigarh University Students Win Gold and Silver Medals at Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026
Two Chandigarh University students have won medals for India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026, with boxer Priya Ghanghas securing gold and weightlifter Valluri Ajay Babu winning silver.
Priya, a BA student at Chandigarh University, won the women’s 60 kg boxing gold medal, while Ajay Babu, also a BA student, claimed silver in the men’s 79 kg weightlifting event. Their performances added two major international medals to the university’s growing list of sporting achievements.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games featured athletes from 74 countries competing across 10 sports during the 11-day event, according to the university release.
Chandigarh University Students at Commonwealth Games 2026
| Athlete | Sport | Event/Category | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priya Ghanghas | Boxing | Women’s 60 kg | 🥇 Gold |
| Valluri Ajay Babu | Weightlifting | Men’s 79 kg | 🥈 Silver |
Priya Ghanghas Wins Boxing Gold for India
Priya Ghanghas produced a strong performance in the women’s 60 kg boxing category to secure the Commonwealth Games gold medal.
In the final, Priya faced Canada’s Marie-Batoul Al-Ahmadieh and recorded a 4-1 victory to take the title.
The result adds another major international achievement to the young boxer’s growing career.
Priya is currently pursuing a BA at Chandigarh University and represents a new generation of Indian athletes balancing higher education with elite international sport.
Priya Ghanghas: Recent Achievements
Priya had already built a strong international record before arriving in Glasgow.
Her reported achievements include medals at:
Asian youth-level championships
Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship
Spain Boxam Cup
Grand Prix European Tournament
Asian Boxing Championship
Most notably, she won gold at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, defeating North Korea’s Won Un-gyong in the final.
That performance helped her secure a place in India’s international contingent.
From Haryana to Commonwealth Games Champion
Priya hails from Haryana, a state that has produced several internationally successful Indian boxers.
Her development has included performances at both youth and senior levels.
She won the Best Boxer title along with gold in the 57 kg category at the 6th Youth Women’s National Boxing Championship in Bhopal, according to the university’s release.
She later won silver at the Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship before taking gold in its 2025–26 edition.
The Glasgow gold now represents one of the biggest achievements of her international career.
Valluri Ajay Babu Wins Weightlifting Silver
Chandigarh University’s second medal came through Valluri Ajay Babu, who competed in the men’s 79 kg weightlifting category.
Ajay Babu finished with a combined lift of:
| Lift | Weight |
|---|---|
| Snatch | 149 kg |
| Clean and Jerk | 181 kg |
| Total | 330 kg |
| Medal | 🥈 Silver |
He missed the gold medal by just one kilogram, according to the published results cited in the university release.
Ajay Babu’s 330 kg Performance
Weightlifting results are determined by the combined total of the athlete’s best successful snatch and clean-and-jerk attempts.
For Ajay Babu:
149 kg Snatch + 181 kg Clean & Jerk = 330 kg Total
That total was enough to secure the Commonwealth Games silver medal.
Missing gold by only one kilogram highlights how closely contested the event was.
Ajay Babu Comes From a Weightlifting Family
Ajay Babu’s Commonwealth Games achievement also carries a family connection.
He comes from a village in Andhra Pradesh and belongs to a family with a strong weightlifting background.
His father is a former international weightlifter who won a bronze medal in the 56 kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Sixteen years later, Ajay Babu has continued that family legacy by winning Commonwealth Games silver.
His brother is also involved in weightlifting.
Ajay Babu’s Previous International Medals
Ajay Babu entered Glasgow with significant international experience.
He previously won:
Junior Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship 2023 – Gold
and
Senior Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship 2024 – Gold
The Junior Commonwealth title came in Noida in 2023, while he won the senior Commonwealth championship in Suva, Fiji, in 2024.
Strong Record at National Level
Ajay Babu has also accumulated medals across major Indian competitions.
His reported achievements include gold medals at:
Youth National Weightlifting Championship
Junior National Weightlifting Championship
Senior National Weightlifting Championship
Khelo India Youth Games
National Games
He won silver at the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023 before winning gold at the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand in 2025.
The Commonwealth Games silver represents another step in his transition from a successful national athlete to an established international competitor.
Why These Medals Matter for Chandigarh University
The results put two Chandigarh University students on the Commonwealth Games podium in two different disciplines:
Boxing + Weightlifting
Both athletes are BA students while simultaneously competing at international level.
Their success also comes after Chandigarh University has invested substantially in competitive university sport.
According to the university, it has allocated an annual sports budget of ₹6.5 crore.
Chandigarh University Sports Scholarships
Chandigarh University says 1,183 athletes currently receive sports scholarships, including 562 female student-athletes.
According to the university, support for eligible athletes includes facilities such as:
Sports scholarships
Coaching
Special diets
Sports kits
Travel support
Hostel facilities
Training infrastructure
This model is designed to allow high-performance athletes to continue their education while pursuing competitive sport.
CU’s Recent University Sports Record
The Commonwealth Games medals follow a strong period for Chandigarh University in domestic university sport.
At the 2025 Khelo India University Games, Chandigarh University finished at the top of the medal standings with 67 medals, including:
42 gold
14 silver
11 bronze
The university fielded a contingent of 174 athletes and became the first university to win the Khelo India University Games overall title in consecutive editions, according to a university release published in December 2025.
The latest Commonwealth Games medals extend that success from university-level competition to the international stage.
Student-Athletes and Higher Education
The performances of Priya Ghanghas and Valluri Ajay Babu also highlight the increasing role universities can play in supporting elite athletes.
High-performance student-athletes often need to manage:
Academic Classes + Training + Competition + Travel + Recovery
Universities providing flexible academic and sporting support can make it easier for athletes to pursue degrees without interrupting their competitive careers.
For students considering universities partly on the basis of sports opportunities, important factors can include:
Professional coaching
Sports infrastructure
Scholarships
Competition exposure
Flexible academic policies
Strength and conditioning
Physiotherapy
Nutrition support
Hostel facilities
Travel support
Medal counts alone should not be the only factor when evaluating a university’s sports programme.
Priya Ghanghas vs Valluri Ajay Babu: Performance Snapshot
| Detail | Priya Ghanghas | Valluri Ajay Babu |
|---|---|---|
| University | Chandigarh University | Chandigarh University |
| Programme | BA | BA |
| Sport | Boxing | Weightlifting |
| Category | Women’s 60 kg | Men’s 79 kg |
| Glasgow Medal | Gold | Silver |
| Key Performance | Won final 4-1 | Lifted total 330 kg |
| International Background | Asian-level boxing champion | Junior & Senior Commonwealth champion |
Chandigarh University’s Growing Sports Profile
The university has increasingly positioned competitive sport as part of its broader student-development strategy.
Its recent achievements span disciplines including:
Boxing
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Athletics
Swimming
Canoeing
Kayaking
Hockey
Judo
Badminton
The institution has also highlighted the career opportunities its student-athletes have received through sports quotas in government organisations.
In July 2026, Chandigarh University said 73 of its medal-winning student-athletes secured government jobs during the 2025–26 academic year, including positions in the armed forces, paramilitary organisations, Railways, police and other government institutions.
What’s Next for the Medalists?
For Priya Ghanghas, the Glasgow gold strengthens her position among India’s emerging international boxers.
Having already achieved success at Asian competitions, continued international exposure could make upcoming continental and global events particularly important for her career.
For Ajay Babu, missing Commonwealth Games gold by just one kilogram demonstrates that he is already competing close to the top level of his weight category.
His progression from youth and junior competitions to senior international medals will make his future performances worth following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chandigarh University students won medals at the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Priya Ghanghas and Valluri Ajay Babu won medals for India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026.
Who won the gold medal?
Chandigarh University BA student Priya Ghanghas won gold in women’s 60 kg boxing.
Who won the silver medal?
Valluri Ajay Babu won silver in the men’s 79 kg weightlifting category.
What was Priya Ghanghas’ final result?
Priya defeated Canada’s Marie-Batoul Al-Ahmadieh 4-1 in the 60 kg boxing final.
How much weight did Ajay Babu lift?
Ajay Babu lifted a combined 330 kg — 149 kg in snatch and 181 kg in clean and jerk.
How close was Ajay Babu to winning gold?
According to the university release, he missed the gold medal by one kilogram.
What courses are the athletes studying?
Both Priya Ghanghas and Valluri Ajay Babu are reported to be BA students at Chandigarh University.
Where is Priya Ghanghas from?
Priya Ghanghas is from Haryana.
Where is Valluri Ajay Babu from?
Ajay Babu comes from Andhra Pradesh and belongs to a weightlifting family.
Did Ajay Babu’s father also compete internationally?
Yes. His father is a former international weightlifter who won bronze at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, according to the university.
Does Chandigarh University offer sports scholarships?
Yes. Chandigarh University says 1,183 athletes, including 562 women, are currently receiving sports scholarships.
Final Update
Chandigarh University students Priya Ghanghas and Valluri Ajay Babu have returned from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 with gold and silver medals for India.
Priya captured the women’s 60 kg boxing gold with a 4-1 victory over Canada’s Marie-Batoul Al-Ahmadieh in the final. Ajay Babu secured men’s 79 kg weightlifting silver after producing a 330 kg total — 149 kg in the snatch and 181 kg in the clean and jerk — missing gold by just one kilogram.
Both athletes are BA students at Chandigarh University, making the result significant not only for Indian sport but also for university-level athlete development.
The report was published by Business Standard on August 10 as sponsored/press-release content supplied by PRNewswire, and Business Standard explicitly states that its journalists were not involved in creating the release. That distinction is important when attributing claims about Chandigarh University’s sports budget, scholarships and institutional achievements.
