From temple stones to glasgow podium: Valluri family’s weightlifting journey

Vizianagaram: A family from Kondavelagada village in Vizianagaram district is turning stone, steel and sacrifice into Commonwealth medals.

Valluri Srinivasarao, 56kg bronze medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, began his journey in 1994 by lifting Sangidi Rallu — traditional stones at temple festivals. Despite financial hardship, his father Pedanarayana supported his coaching and nutrition.

Srinivasarao went on to become a state champion in 1998, junior national winner in 2001, and won 22 medals including 13 golds during his career with the Indian Army. Now, his sons are carrying the barbell forward.

Ajaya Babu, 24, entered professional weightlifting in 2017. He won nine golds across junior and senior Commonwealth championships before upgrading the family tally with a silver in men’s 79kg at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a 330kg total.

“Winning silver in Glasgow was a milestone,” Ajaya told TNIE. “My father is my first coach and my biggest inspiration.”His younger brother Akhil, 18, has already set records at youth nationals and is competing at national and international levels.

Both brothers train under their father’s guidance with one shared goal: an Olympic podium.With a bronze in 2010 and now a silver in 2026, the Valluris have become one of the rare father-son duos to medal at the Commonwealth Games.

From lifting temple stones to chasing Olympic dreams, the Valluri family’s story is one of resilience, discipline and generational ambition.