Mirabai Chanu makes triumphant return, wins gold at Commonwealth Championships

Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu returned to competitive action in emphatic fashion, winning gold in the women’s 48kg category at the Commonwealth Championships in Ahmedabad on Monday, August 25.

Chanu lifted a total of 193kg (84kg snatch, 109kg clean and jerk) to finish well clear of her rivals and set new Commonwealth records in both lifts. This was her third Commonwealth Championships gold after victories in 2013 and 2017.

The 30-year-old was competing in the 48kg class for the first time since 2018, having moved back from the scrapped 49kg division where she won Olympic silver in Tokyo. Despite missing her first snatch and final clean and jerk attempts, she dominated the field, with Malaysia’s Irene Henry (161kg) and Wales’ Nikole Roberts (150kg) taking silver and bronze respectively.

Calling the victory “special on home soil,” Chanu said the win was a major confidence boost as she prepares for the World Championships in October, followed by next year’s Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.