Mirabai Chanu Clinches Gold at CWG 2026, Completes Historic Hat-trick

Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has once again brought glory to the nation by clinching the gold medal in the women's 48 kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. This victory marks a significant milestone in her career as she completed a historic hat-trick of gold medals in the Commonwealth Games. Chanu's performance was a masterclass in strength and technique, as she dominated the field from the very beginning of the competition.

The Historic Hat-trick and Competition Strategy

Mirabai Chanu entered the arena with a clear strategy, choosing a starting weight of 82 kg, which was the highest among all competitors. This tactical move meant she entered the field later than her rivals, while while she waited for her turn, her competitors from Nigeria and Sri Lanka struggled with their attempts and were eventually eliminated from the medal race. This gold medal is Chanu's third consecutive top-podium finish at the Commonwealth Games, having previously won gold in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the event.

Record-Breaking Performance in Snatch Round

The snatch round witnessed Mirabai Chanu setting new benchmarks. In her second attempt, she successfully lifted 82 kg, setting a new record. Not resting on her laurels, she returned for her third attempt and lifted 85 kg, breaking her own record within minutes. This exceptional performance placed her firmly in the lead for the gold medal. The 85 kg lift is noted as the highest weight ever lifted by any athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games in this category. On top of that, the source indicates that no athlete in the history of Commonwealth nations has lifted such weight on major international platforms like the Olympic Games or the World Championships.

Clean and Jerk Success

Moving into the clean and jerk round, Chanu decided to lift 105 kg. Although she missed her first attempt, she showed immense resilience and focus. Mirroring the determination she displayed in the snatch round, she made a powerful comeback in her second attempt. She successfully lifted the 105 kg weight, securing the gold medal for India and cementing her legacy as one of the greatest weightlifters in the country's history.

Rishikant Singh Secures Silver Medal

The fourth day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games brought more success for the Indian contingent in weightlifting. Rishikant Singh, competing in his debut Commonwealth Games, delivered an outstanding performance in the men's 60 kg category. He lifted a total of 264 kg, which included 121 kg in the snatch round and 143 kg in the clean and jerk round. This impressive total earned him the silver medal, providing India with its second medal of the day.

Updates from Lawn Bowls and Swimming

In other sporting events, the results were mixed for India, while in the women's pairs sectional play of Lawn Bowls, the Indian duo of Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinky Singh faced a tough challenge against Namibia. The match was closely contested and went into a tiebreak, where the Indian pair unfortunately lost with a score of 0-3. However, there was positive news from the swimming pool. The Indian men's 4x200 meter freestyle relay team, consisting of Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dakshan Sshashikumar, performed well in the heats. They finished in third place, which was sufficient to qualify them for the final event.