Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, an Olympic medallist, made a spectacular comeback to competition on Monday by taking home the gold in the women’s 48 kg division at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.
Former world champion Mirabai Chanu, competing for the first time since finishing fourth at the Olympics in Paris last year, lifted 84 kg in snatch and 109 kg in clean and jerk, for a total lift of 193 kg and first place on the podium.
The Indian weightlifter competed in 48kg at the championships because the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) changed the weight divisions, eliminating Mirabai’s personal division of 49kg.
Mirabai Chanu’s fifth Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship medal comes from this competition. She has previously won gold medals in the 2013, 2017, and 2019 editions and a silver in 2015.
The winners of each senior division earn a spot at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which is also a qualifying event for the weightlifting competition.
Mirabai Chanu is leading India’s 16-member senior contingent, which consists of eight men and an equal number of women. Approximately 300 athletes from 31 countries are participating in the tournament. Additionally, there are four reserves: three women and one male.
Junior and youth lifters will also compete, and India will compete in all divisions.
Preetismita Bhoi had already opened India’s account by winning the gold medal in the 44 kg women’s division. She achieved a new Youth Commonwealth Record in C&J & Total with an overall lift of 150 kg, which included 63 kg in snatch and 87 kg in clean and jerk (C&J).
Dharmajyoti won gold in the 56 kg event of the men’s division by lifting a total of 224 kg (97 snatch and 127 clean and jerk). He also broke the Commonwealth Youth record in overall and C&J throughout this procedure.