IMPHAL/UKHRUL: As the Indian tricolour was raised in celebration at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Sunday, a family in a modest home at Ngairangbam Makha Leikai in Imphal West found themselves torn between immense pride and quiet sorrow.
On one side of the world, 28-year-old Chanambam Rishikanta Singh was standing on the Commonwealth podium after winning India’s first silver medal of the Games in the men’s 60kg weightlifting event. On the other, his father is in Jaipur, undergoing medical treatment, unable to witness the defining moment of his son’s career.
The family, separated by circumstances beyond their control, could not gather to watch Rishikanta compete. There were no collective cheers, no embraces after the final lift. Yet, the medal carried the weight of years of sacrifice, resilience and hope.
For Ngairangbam Makha Leikai, the achievement is historic. Rishikanta has become the first athlete from the locality to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, inspiring a generation of young sportspersons in Manipur.
His silver medal was not won overnight.
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Born into a financially struggling family, Rishikanta began weightlifting while studying in Class VIII. His sporting journey started at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre, Imphal, where his talent was first nurtured. From there, he steadily rose through state and national competitions, earning medals and building a reputation as one of India’s most promising weightlifters.
Years of relentless discipline culminated on Sunday when he produced the performance of his life in Glasgow.
Rishikanta lifted 121kg in the snatch, setting a new Commonwealth Games record, before lifting 143kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 264kg. He came agonisingly close to winning gold but narrowly missed the title after failing to clear 151kg in his final clean and jerk attempt.
His silver medal became India’s first silver and second overall medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
For his family, however, the medal tells a much deeper story than sporting success.
His uncle, Chanambam Ibomcha, struggled to hold back his emotions while speaking to reporters. “We watched the competition with so much tension because we wanted him to return with a medal. When he finally secured the silver, tears came to our eyes. We didn’t know whether to cry or celebrate. It was an unforgettable moment for our family,” he said.
He recalled the difficult years that shaped Rishikanta’s journey.
“We come from a poor family. His mother worked as a daily wage labourer and bore most of the expenses for his training, competitions and other needs. She sacrificed so much so that he could continue pursuing weightlifting. Rishikanta has always been hardworking and determined since childhood. We are proud of what he has achieved today, but we believe this is only the beginning. We hope to see him win an Olympic gold for India.”
His sister-in-law, Chanambam Ongbi Ichan, described Sunday’s medal as the reward for years of perseverance.
“This was his first Commonwealth Games, but he has represented the State and the country in many championships before. His elder brother, who serves in the Indian Air Force and is currently posted in Rajasthan, and his mother have always stood by him and supported him in every possible way,” she said.
Even amid the celebrations, one absence was deeply felt.
While the family rejoiced in Rishikanta’s success, his father remained in Jaipur receiving medical treatment, unable to witness the moment his son fulfilled a lifelong dream.
The silver medal may have placed Rishikanta among the Commonwealth’s finest weightlifters, but for his family, it symbolises something even greater, a son’s tribute to the sacrifices of a mother, the prayers of a father, and the unwavering belief of a family that never stopped dreaming.
As Manipur celebrates another sporting milestone, the people of Ngairangbam Makha Leikai are already looking beyond Glasgow. Their dream now is simple but profound that the next time Rishikanta stands on an international podium, it will be at the Olympic Games, with a gold medal around his neck.
