After a year-long injury break, Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu made a bold comeback to the international stage and bagged gold in the 48kg category at the Commonwealth Championships 2025 in Ahmedabad on Monday, August 25, lifting a total of 193kg (84kg+109kg).

Chanu set new Commonwealth Championship records in weightlifting, clean and jerk, and total, despite completing only three of her six attempts. She opened her weightlifting at 84kg but failed on the first attempt, showing signs of right knee discomfort, before successfully clearing it on the second. Her third weightlifting attempt at 89kg was unsuccessful.

In clean and jerk, she lifted 105kg on her first attempt and improved to 109kg, missing her final 113kg attempt. With no serious competition, Chanu dominated the field comfortably. Malaysia's Irene Henry won silver with a total of 161kg (73kg+88kg), while Wales' Nikole Roberts took bronze with 150kg (70kg+80kg).

Chanu has shifted from the 49kg to the 48kg category with the 2028 Olympics in mind. The 48kg category is the same in which she previously won her 2017 World Championship gold and two Commonwealth Games medals, gold in 2018 and silver in 2014.

The 31-year-old Manipur-born weightlifter showed resilience in her comeback, battling injury and rustiness but proving her dominance on the international stage once again. Her performance is being seen as a major boost for India’s weightlifting prospects ahead of the Olympics.

Past achievements by Chanu

Before her gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships, Mirabai Chanu had already made the country proud with her achievements. She won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 49kg category and gold at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships in the 48kg category. She also shone at the Commonwealth Games, winning gold in 2018 (Gold Coast) and silver in 2014 (Glasgow). Over the years, Chanu has set several records in snatch, clean and jerk, and total, becoming one of India’s most celebrated weightlifters.