Mirabai Chanu Wins Historic Third Straight Commonwealth Games Gold with Record-Breaking Performance

Glasgow, July 27: Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her status as one of India’s greatest weightlifters by clinching a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 48kg category at the 2026 Games in Glasgow on Sunday. In the process, the Manipuri star shattered both the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch event, adding another remarkable achievement to her glittering career.

Mirabai, who also became India’s first gold medallist at the Glasgow Games, overcame an early setback before delivering a commanding performance on the competition platform. She failed to clear 82kg on her opening snatch attempt, briefly raising concerns about her title defence. However, the experienced lifter responded with composure, successfully lifting the same weight on her second attempt before raising the bar to 85kg for her final lift.

The successful 85kg effort not only secured the lead but also established new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch category, underlining Mirabai’s continued dominance in international weightlifting.

Heading into the clean and jerk with a comfortable eight-kilogram advantage, Mirabai encountered another minor setback when she failed her opening attempt. True to her champion credentials, she bounced back immediately by successfully lifting 105kg on her second attempt. The lift gave her an unassailable lead and effectively sealed the gold medal even before the remaining competitors completed their attempts.

The victory marked Mirabai’s third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal, following her triumphs at the 2018 Gold Coast Games and the 2022 Birmingham Games. Her latest success further cements her legacy as one of India’s most decorated weightlifters and one of the country’s most consistent performers on the international stage.

Earlier in the day, India had opened its medal account through Rishikanta Singh Chanambam, who produced an impressive display to claim the silver medal in the men’s 60kg category.

Rishikanta made headlines by breaking the Commonwealth Games snatch record with a successful lift of 121kg, surpassing the previous mark of 120kg. He followed it up with a clean and jerk effort of 143kg to finish with a combined total of 264kg, securing second place on the podium.

Malaysia’s Bin Kasdan Mohamad Aniq claimed the gold medal after producing a total lift of 273kg, setting a new overall Commonwealth Games record in the category. Kenya’s Joshua Amunga Mboya completed the podium with a bronze medal after recording a combined lift of 260kg.

India’s strong showing in weightlifting, highlighted by Mirabai’s historic gold and Rishikanta’s silver, provided another boost to the country’s medal tally at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and reinforced its growing strength in the sport on the global stage.

Team Maverick