Mirabai Chanu disclosed that she had not consumed any food for two days leading up to her victory at the Commonwealth Games 2026. This extraordinary feat earned her India’s first gold medal at the event, where she demonstrated her exceptional skills in the women’s 48kg weightlifting category in Glasgow on Sunday. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist overcame initial setbacks in her opening attempts, ultimately setting a total lift record of 190kg, making it her third consecutive medal at the Commonwealth Games and contributing to India’s tally of three medals overall at the Games.

Upon stepping off the podium, visibly emotional after her victory, Mirabai candidly told reporters, “Jaldi jaldi karo, maine kuch khaaya nahi hai 2 din se,” which translates to “Please do this quickly, I haven’t eaten in two days.” Despite the circumstances, she managed to smile, highlighting both her determination and her commitment to her sport.

Support From Family and Coach

Following her achievement, Mirabai expressed heartfelt gratitude towards her family and longstanding coach, Vijay Sharma, acknowledging their unwavering support throughout her career. “They have supported me through thick and thin,” she remarked. She also spoke about the pressure she felt from both family and friends, declaring that her victory was not only a personal achievement but a source of joy for her supporters. “I was under a lot of pressure from family and friends, so happy to win third gold for India,” she noted.

Although Mirabai had initially planned not to exert herself too much in Glasgow, particularly with the Asian Games approaching in less than two months, she quickly adjusted her strategy after missing her first lift attempt. She indicated that both she and her coach had initially considered that she would only need to make two lifts throughout the competition.

Mirabai’s performance truly began after the other competitors had completed their lifts, illustrating her superior class. After missing her first attempt at a snatch of 82kg, she quickly rectified the situation, successfully lifting the same weight before advancing to 85kg, which set a new Commonwealth record.

Dominance in the Competition

Mirabai faced an additional challenge during the clean and jerk category when she missed her initial lift at 105kg. However, demonstrating the resilience of a champion, she successfully completed the lift on her second attempt, sealing her gold medal. This successful effort not only secured the top podium finish but also established new Commonwealth Games records in both the clean and jerk and the overall total of 190kg. Opting to forego her final lift to prevent any undue strain ahead of the upcoming Asian Games, Mirabai exhibited a judicious approach to her competition.

Her impressive performance put her 22kg ahead of Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong, who won the silver medal with a total lift of 168kg, further underscoring Mirabai’s dominance in the event. The day was also significant for Manipuri weightlifting, as fellow athlete Rishikanta Singh won a silver in the men’s category. Although he matched the Commonwealth Games snatch record with an impressive lift of 121kg, two unsuccessful attempts in the clean and jerk resulted in an overall total of 264kg, frustrating his quest for gold.

Overall, Mirabai’s success in Glasgow adds another significant milestone to her illustrious career and reinforces her position as one of India’s most celebrated weightlifters, as she prepares to encounter forthcoming challenges in the Asian Games.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share