Mirabai Chanu Wins Historic Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Again
Mirabai Chanu Wins Historic Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Again
Why in the News ?
India’s star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu won the country’s first Gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, setting new Commonwealth Games records in the women’s 48 kg category and securing her third consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold.
India’s Performance at Commonwealth Games 2026
- Mirabai Chanu clinched the Gold medal in the women’s 48 kg weightlifting event with a record-breaking total lift of 190 kg, reaffirming her dominance in international weightlifting.
- She established new Commonwealth Games records by lifting 85 kg in the Snatch and 105 kg in the Clean and Jerk, becoming the first Indian to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold medals in weightlifting (2018, 2022, and 2026).
- India further strengthened its medal tally as Chanambam Rishikanta Singh won Silver in the men’s 60 kg category with a total lift of 264 kg, equalling the Games record in the Snatch (121 kg).
- Raja Muthupandi secured another Silver medal in the men’s 65 kg category with a combined lift of 286 kg, while Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin won Gold with a Games record.
- In boxing, Jadumani Singh and Preeti Pawar advanced to the quarter-finals of their respective categories, strengthening India’s medal prospects.
- India’s medal tally reached four medals—one Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze, with Para-powerlifter Jhandu Kumar having earlier won the country’s first medal of the Games.
Significance of the Achievement
- Mirabai Chanu’s victory reflects India’s growing strength in weightlifting and highlights the success of sustained investments in elite sports development.
- Winning three consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold medals demonstrates exceptional consistency, discipline, and international competitiveness.
- The success boosts India’s confidence ahead of future global competitions, including the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.
- Outstanding performances by Indian athletes inspire greater participation in sports, particularly among women athletes, and contribute to the development of a stronger sporting culture.
- International sporting achievements enhance India’s soft power, improve its global sporting reputation, and support the vision of becoming a leading sporting nation.
About Commonwealth Games & Weightlifting :● The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport international event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The first Games were held in 1930 as the British Empire Games. ● The event is organised every four years under the supervision of Commonwealth Sport, formerly known as the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). ● Weightlifting competitions consist of two lifts—Snatch and Clean and Jerk—with the athlete’s best successful lift in each category added to determine the final total. ● Mirabai Chanu is one of India’s most decorated weightlifters, having won a Silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, multiple World Championship medals, and several Commonwealth Games titles. ● Government initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Khelo India Programme, National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) play a crucial role in nurturing elite athletes and strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem. |