Ahmedabad, Aug 25: Former world champion and Manipur’s pride daughter, Mirabai Chanu, made a remarkable return to competitive weightlifting by winning gold in the women’s 48kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships held in Ahmedabad on Monday.
This was Chanu’s first outing since her fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She lifted a combined total of 193kg (84kg snatch + 109kg clean & jerk), which not only earned her the top podium spot but also secured direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Chanu overcame an early setback after missing her first snatch attempt at 84kg, succeeding in her second lift before failing at 87kg. In clean and jerk, she lifted 105kg and 109kg successfully before narrowly missing 113kg.
India’s Soumya Sunil Dalvi won silver with 177kg (76kg + 101kg), while Nigeria’s Ruth Asouquo Nyong claimed bronze with 167kg (72kg + 95kg).
Chanu, the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist, has now won her fourth Commonwealth Championship gold, adding to her victories in 2013, 2017, and 2019.
Meanwhile, India’s youth lifters also excelled. Dharmajyoti Dewgharia struck gold in the men’s 56kg youth division with a record total of 224kg (97kg + 127kg). Payal set youth Commonwealth records with a 166kg total in the women’s 48kg, while Preetismita Bhoi clinched gold in the 44kg youth category with 150kg.
The 30th edition of the championships features over 300 lifters from 31 nations, with India fielding a 16-member senior squad spearheaded by Chanu.
