India’s Mirabai Chanu competes in the women’s 48kg Final weightlifting competition at the 23rd Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland, Sunday, July 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
As a glowing Mirabai Chanu walked into the mixed zone to meet the Indian media in Glasgow on Sunday (July 26, 2026), she was in high spirits. So much so that when the cameramen bent down on their knees to fix their microphones, she smiled and said: “Mera Aashirwad [My blessings]! Please finish quickly as I have not eaten for the last few days!”
Mirabai was the darling of the packed gathering at the Scottish Event Campus during the Games.
Going for her third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal, the 31-year-old Indian weightlifting star broke records in both snatch and clean and jerk with ease.
Huge cheer
The gathering gave her a rousing reception after she completed her lifts and secured gold in women’s 48kg with a record 190kg (85 & 105).
“I am very happy that I was able to get my third gold medal for India,” she said.
Mirabai revealed that there was a lot of pressure on her, and she was delighted to handle it. “A lot was going on in my mind — whether I would be able to win the medal this time. I am relieved,” she said.
Mirabai added that maintaining the 48kg category had been a difficult task. “This performance is very important for me because I have been controlling my body weight for a long time. It was very difficult for me to bring it down to 48kg. From now on, I will focus on the Asian Games.”
It was an emotional moment for another Manipuri weightlifter Rishikanta Singh Chanambam, too. Winning a medal was a “dream-come-true” for the 28-year-old as he claimed silver in the men’s 60kg with a total of 264kg (a Games record 121kg in snatch and 143 in clean and jerk).
Dream come true
“It’s a dream to win my first Commonwealth Games silver medal. My family will be very happy,” said Rishikanta.
He became the first male weightlifter from the State to win a medal at the Games.
Rishikanta added he felt a shooting pain in his knee during the break after the snatch series.
“I knew it would be bad if I give up. I told my coach I will have to win a silver and went for the final [clean and jerk] round,” he said.
Published – July 26, 2026 08:43 pm IST
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