Mirabai Chanu Celebrates Historic Third Gold at Commonwealth Games 2026
Mirabai Chanu's Emotional Victory
Glasgow [Scotland], July 27: Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu expressed her overwhelming joy and emotions after securing her third consecutive gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. She shared that the years filled with sacrifices, injuries, and mental challenges made this achievement particularly meaningful.
Chanu triumphed in the women's 48kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026, marking a remarkable hat-trick following her victories at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022. This win also marked India's first gold medal at the Glasgow Games.
Reflecting on her journey, Chanu acknowledged the difficulties she faced along the way. She stated, “I am extremely happy and also very emotional. I made so many sacrifices and overcame stress and injuries to reach the Games and win a medal. I didn’t know I would set a Commonwealth record. I was only focused on completing the lift assigned by my coach.”
The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist showcased her dominance from the beginning, starting with a Commonwealth record lift of 85kg in the snatch, which set the tone for the competition.
In the clean and jerk segment, Chanu faced a setback on her first attempt at 82kg but quickly recovered, successfully lifting the weight on her second try and then achieving 85kg on her third attempt, establishing a new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record.
She concluded her performance with a successful lift of 105kg, securing the gold medal decisively and joining the ranks of a select group of Indian athletes who have won three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals.
This latest victory adds another significant milestone to Chanu's illustrious career, which already includes an Olympic silver medal and a World Championship title.
Chanu's success also contributed to India's strong performance in weightlifting at Glasgow 2026. Earlier, Chanambam Rishikanta Singh earned a silver medal in the men's 60kg event, followed by Raja Muthupandi, who secured another silver in the men's 65kg category.
Her achievement ensured that India's national anthem resonated for the first time at the Games, providing a significant boost to the country's campaign as more medal events are on the horizon in Glasgow.