Raja Muthupandi (born 12 January 2000) is an Indian weightlifter. He won the silver medal in the men's 65 kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Early life Raja was born on 12 January 2000 in Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. His father was a daily wage worker. Raja was introduced to weightlifting at the age of 12. In 2014, he started training at a training center run by the Sports Authority of India. He has been coached by Vijay Sharma since 2016. He is employed by the Indian Railways since 2018.
Career Raja was part of the Indian contingent for the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast, Queensland. In the 62 kg event, he finished sixth with a total lift of including in snatch and in clean & jerk. He suffered a ligament tear in his right elbow during the 2019 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships that required surgery.
Raja returned to competing in the 2021 National Championships, and won a bronze medal. However, he failed to qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games due to his third place finish in the national event. In the 2024 National Championships, he won the gold medal and set several national records in the men's 61 kg category with a total lift of including in snatch and in clean & jerk.
In the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships at Ahmedabad, Raja won the silver medal in the 65 kg category with a personal best lift of . In the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships in Førde, Norway, he finished ninth with a total lift of . In the 2026 National Championships, he won the gold medal in the 65 kg category with a new national record of including in snatch and in clean & jerk.
Raja was part of the Indian contingent for the 2026 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. In the 65 kg event, he won the silver medal with a total lift of . In snatch, he cleared in his second attempt, before failing to lift in his third and final attempt. In clean & jerk, he cleared in his second attempt, and failed to lift in his third and final attempt.
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