Kundapur: In a Commonwealth games being played at Gold coast in Australia, a Kundapur based weightlifter Gururaj Pujary, bagged silver medal in weightlifting championship bringing the first medal for India.

According to the reports, Gururaja, son of a truck driver from Chittoor village in Kundapur, clinched India's first medal of the meet with a silver in the men's 56 kg category, whereas the three times medalist Muhammad Azhaar Ahmed of Malaysia was successful again in registering the first place receiving the gold medal. The third place was occupied by Lakhmal Chatur of Sri Lanka.

Gururaja fought off a few nervous moments to finish second. It appeared all but over for Gururaja when he failed in his first two attempts of clean and jerk. But the 26-year-old delivered when it mattered the most to finish with a total lift of 249 kg. 

"I could have won the gold but it was a tense final. The preparation was good for this event and I am happy that I have made my country proud," said Gururaja. 

It was celebration time at Chittoor as news of Gururaja's silver medal spread. Son of Mahabala Poojary and Paddu Poojarthi, a home-maker, Gururaja is the fifth among six children of the couple

Mahabala, a father of Gururaj, said, "Gururaj never demanded too much money from me and he would always be content with whatever he had. Many times, when he would get injured, I have advised him to quit the sport and do something else. But he is a fighter and he has made us all proud today".

Gururaja did his primary schooling in Vandse and later completed his PU from Sri Mookambika Institutions in Kollur. 

It is said that Gururaj completed the dream of achieving his passion with the help of the best coach. Currently, he is serving at Indian Air Force. Earlier to this, he had achieved a gold medal for lifting 241 kgs of weight in '56 kg category' in the Asian Games. He has also won a gold medal in South Asian games international weightlifting.

This time in Commonwealth Games, Gururaj, maintaining his record in the same category, took silver medal by lifting 249 kilograms.