Mirabai Chanu’s golden triumph in Glasgow.

Battling adversity, India’s weightlifting icon secures third CWG gold.

Mirabai Chanu once again proved why she is regarded as one of India’s greatest athletes, clinching the nation’s first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist stunned fans and reporters alike when she revealed that she had gone two days without food before stepping onto the platform. Despite the physical strain, she delivered a record-breaking performance in the women’s 48kg weightlifting event, adding another glittering chapter to her career.

The competition began with unexpected drama. Chanu faltered on her opening snatch attempt at 82kg but quickly regained composure, clearing the same weight on her second try. She then lifted 85kg, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. In the clean and jerk, she faced another scare after missing her first attempt at 105kg. True to her champion’s spirit, she returned to complete the lift successfully, sealing the gold medal and rewriting the record books with a combined total of 190kg.

Her dominance was evident as she finished a massive 22kg ahead of Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong, who settled for silver with 168kg. Chanu’s victory marked her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold, underlining her consistency and supremacy in the sport.

The 31-year-old weightlifter grew emotional during the medal ceremony, breaking down as the national anthem played. She credited her family and long-time coach Vijay Sharma for their unwavering support, acknowledging the immense pressure she carried into the Games. “They have stood by me through everything,” she said, adding that she was relieved to deliver another gold for India.

Interestingly, Chanu admitted she had not planned to exert herself too much in Glasgow, with the Asian Games looming less than two months away. Her strategy was to keep the workload light, but after failing her first attempts, she was compelled to push harder. Ultimately, her resilience paid off, and she chose to skip her final lift to avoid unnecessary strain before the next major challenge.

The day also brought joy for Manipuri weightlifting as Rishikanta Singh secured silver in the men’s category. Though he equaled the snatch record with a lift of 121kg, missed clean and jerk attempts left him short of gold.

For Chanu, however, Glasgow was yet another reminder of her extraordinary grit. Battling hunger, pressure, and setbacks, she emerged victorious, reinforcing her place among India’s sporting legends and setting her sights firmly on the Asian Games.