The Olympic silver medallist, ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been elected as the Chairperson of the Indian Weightlifting Federation’s (IWLF) Athletes Commission, marking a significant milestone in her sporting journey beyond the competitive platform.
The ace lifter from Manipur has reported the new role as an opportunity to represent the collective voice of her fellow weightlifters, expressing deep gratitude to the IWLF for entrusting her with the position. She stated that she viewed the responsibility as a matter of pride and promised to work diligently to communicate the concerns and aspirations of athletes through appropriate channels.
According to a press release, the 30-year-old pledged to approach her new responsibilities with sincerity and commitment, stressing the importance of enabling athletes to stay focused on their sport without undue external distractions.
Widely celebrated for her achievements, Chanu remains one of India’s most accomplished weightlifters.
She is only the second Indian to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting, having claimed silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a total lift of 210 kg. Despite her stellar form, she missed the podium at the Paris Games, which she attributed to physical weakness caused by her menstrual cycle during the competition.
Chanu’s decorated career includes two Commonwealth Games gold medals (2018 and 2022), a World Championship gold in 2017 and a silver in 2022, along with multiple medals at the Commonwealth Championships. The only title that has eluded her so far remains an Asian Games medal.
