Image Source: Olympics.com
Olympic silver medallist and former world champion Mirabai Chanu marked a striking comeback by clinching the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in Ahmedabad on August 25. This victory came after a year-long break following her fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics and was made even sweeter by setting new Commonwealth Championship records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total weight categories. Chanu’s total lift of 193kg (84kg snatch + 109kg clean and jerk) not only secured the gold medal but also earned her direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, reaffirming her dominance and resilience in the sport .
Key Highlights of Mirabai Chanu’s Commonwealth Win
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Achieved a winning total of 193kg in the women’s 48kg category, composed of an 84kg snatch and a 109kg clean and jerk.
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Set new Commonwealth records in all three categories: snatch, clean and jerk, and total weight.
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Came back strong after a year-long absence due to injury and challenges.
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Qualified directly for the 2026 Commonwealth Games through this championship victory.
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Shifted from the 49kg to the 48kg category after the International Weightlifting Federation revised weight classes.
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Mirabai’s performance was commanding, clearly outclassing the competition in the event.
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This win marks her fifth medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships, adding to her previous golds in 2013, 2017, and 2019, and a silver in 2015.
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Despite some signs of rust and missed attempts, she maintained composure and dominance on the platform.
Mirabai Chanu’s Road Back to Glory
Mirabai had to adapt to the new 48kg weight class after the 49kg category she normally competed in was discontinued by the IWF. Her transition proved effective as she was able to lift competitively and set records in this lighter weight division. Despite missing a few lift attempts, including an 89kg snatch and a 113kg clean and jerk, Mirabai demonstrated her strength and tactical skill to register valid lifts at critical moments, paving her way to victory on home soil .
Competitive Landscape at the Championships
While Mirabai dominated the women’s 48kg event, the silver went to Malaysia’s Irene Henry with a total of 161kg (73kg snatch + 88kg clean and jerk) and the bronze to Wales’ Nikole Roberts with 150kg (70kg snatch + 80kg clean and jerk). India’s strong showing was further bolstered by promising youth lifters who also set records, such as Preetismita Bhoi, who won the women’s 44kg youth category and Dharmajyoti Dewgharia, who secured gold in the men’s 56kg youth division with record-breaking lifts .
Significance of This Victory
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The event was Mirabai’s first major competition since the Paris Olympics where she finished just shy of the podium in fourth place.
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This championship win serves as a significant confidence boost ahead of the World Championships in October and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
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It underscores Mirabai’s ability to overcome injury setbacks and weight class changes while maintaining elite performance levels.
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The victory solidifies her status as a key leader of the Indian weightlifting squad, consisting of 16 senior members competing in the Commonwealth Championships.
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The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships acts as an essential qualification event and preparation ground for bigger stages, including the Olympic Games and Asian Games .
Looking Ahead
Mirabai Chanu’s focus now shifts toward the World Championships scheduled for October, where she will aim to secure a podium finish in the 48kg class, and eventually the Asian Games next year. Her performance in Ahmedabad confirms that despite new challenges, she remains one of India’s premier weightlifters with the potential to keep making the nation proud on international platforms. The support from the home crowd and her dedicated coaching team played a vital role in this memorable and inspiring comeback .
Source: Olympics.com, Desh Sewak, India Today, News 18
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