Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu Saikhom had quite a thrilling start to her campaign at the IWLF National Youth, Junior, and Senior Weightlifting Championships 2026. The weightlifter performed with brilliance in the event held at Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh. Competing in three categories, Mirabai finished with gold medals while setting three new national records in the women’s 48kg category.
In the 48 category, Mirabai went on to lift 89 kg, followed by clean and jerk win in the 116 kg event to finish with a total score of 205 kg. Her performance at the championship was in the highlights.
Mirabai is coming off a great season, having won a silver medal at the 2025 World Weightlifting Championships held in Norway with a total lift of 199 kg. Her brilliance now continues in the national championship stage.
Post her title victory, Chanu, during an interview with The Bridge, expressed her delight at the win. She said, “I am very happy with the performance. Despite a drop from 49kg to 48kg, my performance has improved.”
Chanu, however, has set her next target on the Asian Games to be held this year, followed by the preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“My main target is the Asian Games, and after that, I will make a decision, or I will think about the Olympics,” she added.
The Indian weightlifter has been a stalwart with an Olympic medal, three World Championship titles, and three Commonwealth Games medals. The Asian Games to be held in Japan is expected to be her last in her chase for a maiden title of the tournament.
The weightlifting national championship began on February 3 with an opening ceremony, which was attended by athletes and coaches from all across the world, along with members of the Indian Weightlifting Federation and the Indian Olympic Association. The 12-day event features over 790 weightlifters from 30 states and union territories performing until February 14.
Meanwhile, in the Senior Women’s 48 kg category, All India Police Sports Control Board weightlifter Radha Soni secured a silver medal after finishing with a total score of 183 kg. Komal Kohar of the Railway Sports Promotion Board ended with bronze with a total of 182 kg.
Not just the Senior event, but the junior and youth categories also saw some notable performances. Punjab’s Vani Puri secured the top spot in the Junior Women’s 48 kg event, while Pungni Tara of SSCB won gold in the Youth 48 kg category. Meanwhile, in the Women’s 44 kg Youth category, Parishmita Gogoi made a brilliant performance and stood out strongly in the weightlifting event.
(Inputs sourced from The Bridge)
