Mirabai Chanu Wins Silver at World Weightlifting Championships

Norway, Oct 2025 : Olympic medallist and former world champion Mirabai Chanu added another feather to her illustrious career by clinching a silver medal in the women’s 48kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships. This marks her third career medal at the prestigious event and her second silver.

Chanu, returning to international competition after Paris 2024, entered the championship on the back of a gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in August. In Forde, she registered a total lift of 199kg — with 84kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk.

The 31-year-old had a shaky start in the snatch, missing two attempts at 87kg and looking slightly uncomfortable even with her opening 84kg lift. However, she showcased her trademark resilience in the clean and jerk, smoothly executing three lifts — 109kg, 112kg, and finally 115kg, equaling her Tokyo Olympics mark.

North Korea’s Ri Song Gum dominated the field, winning gold with a remarkable 213kg total (91kg snatch, 122kg clean and jerk), setting new world records in both total and clean and jerk. Thailand’s Thanyathon Sukcharoen took the bronze with a 198kg total (88kg snatch, 110kg clean and jerk).

For Chanu, this podium finish adds to her 2017 gold in Anaheim and 2022 silver in Bogota at previous World Championships, reaffirming her consistency on the global stage.

India has fielded a 14-member contingent at the 2025 World Championships, which run until October 11. The competition also serves as a qualifying event for next year’s Commonwealth Games.

In the women’s events, apart from Mirabai, the Indian challenge features Koyel Bar (53kg), Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam (58kg), Nirupama Devi Seram (63kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Vanshita Verma (86kg), and Mehak Sharma (86kg). Notably, Bindyarani, Nirupama, and Mehak all secured silver medals at the Commonwealth Championships in August, while Harjinder and Vanshita brought home bronze.

On the men’s side, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lovepreet Singh is leading the campaign. He had earlier won bronze at the Commonwealth Championships, where Ajith Narayana and Ajaya Babu Valluri bagged gold medals, strengthening India’s reputation in the sport.

Mirabai’s silver continues India’s medal-winning momentum and serves as a promising start for the contingent at this year’s World Championships.

Team Maverick.