Mirabai Chanu Smashes Three National Records at National Weightlifting Championships

Modinagar, Feb 2026 : Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu delivered a commanding performance at the National Weightlifting Championship 2026 on Wednesday, rewriting the record books in the women’s 48kg category with three new national records and a dominant gold-medal finish.

The 31-year-old lifter registered an impressive total of 205kg, setting fresh national marks in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total. Mirabai lifted 89kg in the snatch before following it up with a powerful 116kg in the clean and jerk, comfortably outclassing the field and underlining her status as one of India’s finest weightlifters.

Mirabai’s latest total marks a significant improvement over her previous personal best of 199kg, which she had achieved at the 2022 World Weightlifting Championships in Forde, where she won the silver medal. Her new 205kg total reflects a six-kilogram jump, highlighting her steady progression and adaptability since transitioning to the 48kg weight category.

At the 2022 World Championships, Mirabai had held the national records in the clean and jerk (115kg) and total lift (199kg) in the 48kg division. She continued to push boundaries at the World Championships in December 2023, where she attempted to improve her own national snatch record with a lift of 91kg. While that attempt was unsuccessful, her overall performance at the event was dominant enough to secure victory by a massive 22kg margin over silver medallist Ronda Soni, with Komal Kohar finishing third.

Mirabai’s shift to the 48kg category came after the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) dropped the 49kg category from Olympic qualification pathways. Following her Olympic silver medal at Tokyo 2020 and a fourth-place finish at the Paris 2024 Games in the 49kg class, the move has proven to be a strategic success.

Since switching categories, Mirabai has continued to excel on the international stage. She won gold at the 2023 Commonwealth Championships and claimed silver at the 2022 World Championships, reaffirming her place among the elite female weightlifters in the country.

Looking ahead, Mirabai is expected to gradually move up to the 53kg category after the Asian Games. The 53kg division is set to be the lowest women’s weight class at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, making it a key focus for her long-term plans.

Significantly, all of Mirabai Chanu’s major international achievements—including three medals at the World Weightlifting Championships and three Commonwealth Games medals—have come in sub-50kg categories. This consistency across divisions underscores her dominance, technical excellence, and remarkable adaptability at the highest level of the sport.