Glasgow: Mirabai Chanu secures India’s first gold at Commonwealth Games 2026
Mirabai Chanu has earned India its first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, dominating the women’s 48kg weightlifting event. The weightlifter achieved a record-breaking total lift of 190 kilograms, setting new Commonwealth Games records in both the snatch and the clean and jerk categories.
Chanu lifted 85 kilograms in the snatch and 105 kilograms in the clean and jerk. This victory marks her third consecutive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, following her wins in 2018 and 2022. Her performance placed her significantly ahead of Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong, who secured silver with a total of 168kg.
The 31-year-old athlete, originally from Manipur, overcame a missed opening attempt in both the snatch and clean and jerk phases of the competition. Despite this, she recovered to secure the title, leading by a substantial 22kg margin. With the Asian Games approaching, Chanu opted to forgo her final clean and jerk attempt after already setting new records.
Weightlifting Success Continues for India
India‘s weightlifters had a productive day, adding two silver medals to the country’s tally. Chanambam Rishikanta Singh secured a silver medal in the men’s 60kg event with a total lift of 264 kilograms. He equalled the Commonwealth Games record in the snatch by lifting 121 kilograms and then managed 143 kilograms in the clean and jerk.
Rishikanta, also from Manipur, was in the lead after the snatch phase. However, a knee injury, which resurfaced during the clean and jerk, affected his performance, preventing him from completing heavier lifts. He revealed that the injury, sustained a week before the competition, impacted his ability to push during his final two attempts. Despite this setback, he became the first male weightlifter from Manipur to win a Commonwealth Games medal.
Raja Muthupandi contributed another silver medal in the men’s 65kg category. He achieved a combined lift of 286 kilograms, with 126 kilograms in the snatch and 160 kilograms in the clean and jerk. Malaysia’s Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin won gold in this category with a Games record total of 299 kilograms, while Papua New Guinea’s Morea Baru took bronze with 282kg.
Boxing Advances and Overall Medal Tally
Beyond weightlifting, India also saw progress in boxing. Jadumani Singh advanced to the men’s 55kg quarter-finals after defeating Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman. His victory was a unanimous 5-0 decision, attributed to his superior technique, speed, and ringcraft. Jadumani expressed his dedication to the Kargil heroes and his ambition to win gold for India.
Preeti Pawar also moved into the women’s 54kg quarter-finals, securing a victory over Malawi’s Deborah Mtenje. Preeti won her pre-quarterfinals contest via Referee Stop Contest (RSC) decision in the second round, with the referee stopping the bout with 47 seconds remaining after the Malawi boxer faced two standing counts. Preeti had previously won a bronze in the 2022 Asian Games and a gold in the New Delhi World Cup last year.
The country’s medal tally now stands at four, comprising one gold, two silver, and one bronze. Para-powerlifter Jhandu Kumar had initiated India’s medal count with a bronze in the men’s heavyweight event on the opening day of competition. This places India in the eighth position in the overall medal tally, with Australia currently leading with 33 medals.
Mixed Results in Other Events
While weightlifting and boxing brought success, India faced disappointment in lawn bowls. The women’s pairs team, consisting of Pinki Singh and Rupa Rani Tirkey, was eliminated after losing a tense tie-break to England in their final Group B sectional match. After sharing the first two sets, England secured a 1-1 (3-4, 10-3) victory in the decisive single-end tie-break, ending India‘s hopes for a semi-final spot.
In the men’s singles lawn bowls, Putul Sonowal’s chances of reaching the semi-finals also concluded after a 0.5-1.5 defeat to Malta’s Shaun James Parnis in his penultimate Group D match. Sonowal, currently third in his group, is scheduled to conclude his campaign against Kenya’s Anwar Hamada on Monday.
The President, Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have all congratulated Mirabai Chanu on her achievement. The Prime Minister described her victory as another glorious chapter in Indian weightlifting, wishing her continued success.
Source: newsonair.gov.in
Priya Menon 