Ahmedabad: Former world champion and Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu made a stunning comeback to competitive action by clinching gold at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 in Ahmedabad on Monday. This victory also secured her a direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Competing in the women’s 48kg category for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympics, Chanu lifted a combined total of 193kg (84kg snatch + 109kg clean and jerk) — setting new Commonwealth Championship records in all three categories.
Chanu’s Winning Lifts
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Snatch: Opened with a failed attempt at 84kg, succeeded on her second lift, and narrowly missed 87kg on her final try.
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Clean & Jerk: Cleared 105kg on her first attempt, lifted 109kg on her second, but fell short at 113kg.
India’s Soumya Sunil Dalvi took silver with 177kg (76kg + 101kg), while Nigeria’s Ruth Asouquo Nyong claimed bronze with 167kg (72kg + 95kg).
Transition to 48kg Division
At Paris 2024, Chanu had competed in the 49kg division, where she lifted 199kg (88kg + 111kg). With the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) revising weight categories and discontinuing the 49kg class, Chanu has now moved to the 48kg division, where she continues to dominate.
Her personal bests remain 88kg (snatch), 119kg (clean & jerk), and 205kg (total) — set in the 49kg category.
India Shines in Youth Categories
India’s rising weightlifters also made their mark at the championships:
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Dharmajyoti Dewgharia (Men’s 56kg Youth): Lifted 224kg (97kg + 127kg) to clinch gold and set new youth Commonwealth records in total and clean & jerk.
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Payal (Women’s 48kg Youth): Registered 166kg (73kg + 93kg), setting youth Commonwealth records in all three lifts.
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Preetismita Bhoi (Women’s 44kg Youth): The former youth world champion totaled 150kg (63kg + 87kg) to secure gold.
A Historic Stage for Indian Weightlifting
The 30th edition of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships has attracted over 300 lifters from 31 nations. Chanu, who has previously won gold in 2013, 2017, and 2019 and silver in 2015, is spearheading India’s 16-member senior squad in Ahmedabad.
As the event doubles up as a qualification tournament for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Chanu’s record-breaking performance reaffirms her status as one of India’s greatest weightlifters and a leading medal contender for upcoming international competitions.
