Mirabai Chanu Celebrates Historic Third Gold at Commonwealth Games

Mirabai Chanu has made history by winning her third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, overcoming significant challenges such as injuries and weight management. In her reflections, she emphasizes the importance of this achievement and her commitment to future competitions, including the Asian Games. With India gearing up to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, Chanu's success highlights the nation's growing prominence in sports. Discover more about her journey and aspirations in this inspiring story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 3, 2026, 23:55 IST

Mirabai Chanu's Remarkable Achievement

New Delhi, August 3: Olympic medalist and recent Commonwealth Games gold medalist Mirabai Chanu expressed her excitement over achieving a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals at the CWG. She reflected on the numerous challenges she encountered leading up to the event, including injuries and the struggle with weight management.

Chanu has firmly established herself as one of India's greatest weightlifters, securing her third CWG gold in the 48 kg category in Glasgow, following her victories in the same weight class in 2018 and in the 49 kg category in Birmingham in 2022. Her impressive accolades also include an Olympic silver in the 49 kg category, three World Championship medals—one of which is gold from 2017—and an Asian Championship bronze. An Asian Games medal would complete her impressive collection, showcasing her dominance across major multi-sport and weightlifting events.

In an interview, Mirabai shared that her journey to CWG 2026 was fraught with difficulties, particularly due to injuries and the demands of weight management and training. Overcoming these challenges has been a significant achievement for her.

"I am overjoyed with this third gold medal at the Commonwealth Games; I faced numerous obstacles, including physical challenges and training setbacks. Competing in the 48 kg category is particularly tough, and managing my weight during training has been a considerable hurdle. However, this is part of our journey, and I confronted it. Bringing home a gold medal for India feels like a monumental achievement. I am committed to giving my best for the Asian Games," she stated.

Regarding her reception by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, she remarked, "Regardless of whether we win a medal, the warm welcome we receive upon returning to India is heartwarming; we are honored and treated exceptionally well. It feels like a significant accomplishment for us. From the outset, I aimed to make the most of this opportunity at the CWG, as the future is uncertain leading up to the next CWG."

The 2026 Games were conducted in a compact format, resulting in the exclusion of several major Indian medal-winning events such as shooting, wrestling, and badminton.

India concluded the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in fourth place on the medals table, amassing a total of 39 medals, which included 13 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze. The nation officially embarked on its journey to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, with the ceremonial handover of the Commonwealth Games Flag during a spectacular Closing Ceremony that celebrated the conclusion of Glasgow 2026 while looking forward to the historic centenary edition of the Games.

This symbolic moment marked the return of the Commonwealth Games to India after the 2010 edition in New Delhi and the first time for Gujarat. More significantly, it heralded a new era for Indian sports as the country prepares to welcome athletes from across the Commonwealth for the landmark 2030 edition.

With the ceremonial handover for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad now complete, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports aims to revive traditional sports while developing world-class infrastructure to ensure a record-breaking medal tally.