Mirabai will strive to seal a berth for next year’s Commonwealth Games.
| Photo Credit: File photo: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
After her disappointing fourth-place finish in the Paris Olympics a year ago, Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu’s return to competition will be the biggest attraction for the home crowd at the Commonwealth weightlifting championships, starting at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex here on Monday.
Going by her entry total of 192kg, seven kg less than her effort in Paris, the 31-year-old Mirabai is unlikely to push herself too hard. Still, she is expected to claim a gold and secure a berth in the Commonwealth Games as the championships here offer direct qualification for the Glasgow multi-sport event next year.
The championships will help former World champion Mirabai, who has recovered from injuries and has worked on some technical aspects, to test herself as she switches from 49kg to 48kg following a revamp in weight categories. Besides the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games — where Mirabai has not won a medal — will be on top priority for the ace lifter in 2026.
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Bindyarani Devi (58kg), bronze medallist Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Rishikanta Singh (60kg), N. Ajith (71kg) and V. Ajay Babu (88kg) are some of the leading Indian names who will also eye Glasgow berths.
The field will have prominent foreign lifters, including Canada’s double Olympics medallist Maude Charron (63kg) and Malaysia’s 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Aniq Kasdan (60kg) and Aznil Bidin (65kg), Nigeria’s Rafiatu Lawal (58kg) and Australia’s Eileen Cikamatana (86kg).
Around 290 lifters from 30 countries are expected to participate in the event, which will see competitions in senior, junior and youth divisions.
Published – August 24, 2025 08:18 pm IST
