Mirabai Chanu
India’s weightlifting icon Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has once again Written her name in the history books by securing her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal at the 2026 games in Glasgow. Competing in the women’s 48kg category, the 31-year-old champion delivered a masterclass of strength, grit and mental fortitude. Winning India’s first gold medal of the Glasgow Games, Mirabai finished with an astounding total lift of 190kg. Her phenomenal victory completes an unprecedented hat-trick of golds following her triumphs at Gold Coast in 2018 and Birmingham in 2022.
Mirabai’s performance in Glasgow was nothing short of legendary. In the snatch discipline, after an initial bump in her first attempt, she demonstrated her champion mindset by bouncing back to lift 82kg before pushing the boundary even further. On her final snatch attempt, she successfully lifted 85kg, shattering both the Commonwealth Games record and the overall Commonwealth record. She carried that momentum into the clean and jerk event. Demonstrating supreme composure under pressure, she successfully lifted 105kg on her second attempt. This combined total of 190kg put her a massive 22kg ahead of her nearest competitor, silver-medallist Ruth Asuquo Nyong of Nigeria.
Beyond the impressive stats and heavy weights lies a story of staggering discipline and sacrifice. Making the required weight limit for the 48kg category demanded extreme willpower. Mirabai revealed after her victory that she had endured days of strict fasting, even abstaining from water to ensure she made the weight standard. that willingness to push her body to absolute physical limits underscores the sheer passion that fuels her journey on the global stage.
her trajectory from humble beginnings in Nongpok Kakching, a tiny village in Manipur, to standing atop the podium as a world icon is the ultimate inspiration. As a young girl collecting firewood in the forests and training with crude bamboo barbells due to a lack of equipment, Mirabai’s path was paved with hardship. Today, her historic victory in Glasgow serves as a powerful beacon of hope for millions of young boys and girls across India, demonstrating that relentless work ethic, humility, and determination can overcome any obstacle.
With four total Commonwealth Games medals a silver in 2014 and three straight golds in 2018, 2022, and 2026 Mirabai Chanu has solidified her legacy as one of India’s greatest sportspersons. As she now sets her sights on upcoming international challenges, including the Asian Games, her triumph in Glasgow stands as a Testament to what pure dedication can achieve. Mirabai has not only brought immense pride to the nation once again but she has also shown India’s youth that no weight is too heavy when carried with unwavering courage
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