In a triumphant return to competition, Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu has won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025, held on home soil in Ahmedabad. The victory on Monday was a commanding one, as she set new Commonwealth records in all three categories—snatch, clean and jerk, and total—in the women’s 48 kg division.
Chanu, who was competing for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympics, showed no signs of rust. She lifted 84 kg in the snatch and 109 kg in the clean and jerk, for a massive total of 193 kg. The win not only added another gold to her illustrious career but also secured her a direct qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The victory marks a successful transition for the weightlifter, who has moved down to the 48 kg category after the 49 kg division was discontinued from the Olympic program. The shift required her to make significant adjustments to her training and diet, a challenge she and her coach, Vijay Sharma, have embraced.
“I am truly delighted to win the gold medal here in Ahmedabad,” Chanu told reporters. “Competing on home soil after a year since the Paris Olympics made this moment even more special, and the support from the crowd gave me immense motivation. This victory is the result of relentless hard work, my coaches’ guidance, and the constant encouragement of the nation.”
Her total of 193 kg was a full 32 kg more than her closest competitor, India’s Soumya Sunil Dalvi, who won silver with a lift of 177 kg. The podium was completed by Ruth Asouquo Nyong of Nigeria, who took the bronze with 167 kg.
Chanu’s dominant performance at the Commonwealth Championships is a strong confidence booster as she prepares for the World Championships in October, where she will continue her journey to represent India on the international stage.
