Indian weightlifting star Mirabai Chanu won India’s first Gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, by clinching the women’s 48 kg weightlifting title with a record-breaking performance.

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• Mirabai Chanu once again demonstrated her dominance in international weightlifting by lifting a combined total of 190 kg, setting new Commonwealth Games records in both the snatch (85 kg) and clean and jerk (105 kg) events. 
• With this victory, she secured her third consecutive Commonwealth Games Gold medal, following her triumphs in 2018 (Gold Coast) and 2022 (Birmingham).

Key Highlights

• Mirabai Chanu became the first Indian athlete to win a Gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
• She lifted 190 kg in total, comprising 85 kg in the snatch and 105 kg in the clean and jerk, both new Commonwealth Games records.
• This is her third successive Commonwealth Games Gold medal, reinforcing her status as one of India’s greatest weightlifters.
• Her first CWG medal also came in Glasgow — a silver that she had won at the 2014 Games. 
  • She then improved that to a gold medal at the 2018 Gold Coast CWG and then defended the title at Birmingham 2022. 
  • She also won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, the first Indian to have achieved the milestone.
• India also won two Silver medals in weightlifting through Chanambam Rishikanta Singh (Men’s 60 kg) and Raja Muthupandi (Men’s 65 kg).
• Jhandu Kumar had earlier opened India’s medal account with a Bronze medal in para-powerlifting.

Exam Hook – Prelims

Q. With reference to weightlifting, consider the following statements:

1. In weightlifting competitions, athletes compete in two lifts—snatch and clean and jerk.
2. Mirabai Chanu won India’s first Gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
3. The Khelo India Programme is implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 ✅
(d) 1 and 3 only

One-line Wrap

Mirabai Chanu’s historic Gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games reflects India’s rising sporting excellence and reinforces the country’s growing global presence in weightlifting.