Mirabai Chanu Scripts History with Third Consecutive Gold

Indian weightlifters kicked off their Commonwealth Games campaign on a high note, clinching two medals. On the opening day of the weightlifting competition India won a Gold and a Silver. Star lifter Mirabai Chanu secured her third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal, setting new Games records, while Rishikanta Singh Chanambam claimed silver in the men’s 60kg category.

Key Highlights of Opening Day

• Medal Count: 2 Medals (1 Gold, 1 Silver) on Day 1 of the weightlifting events.
• Historic Hat-Trick: Mirabai Chanu achieved her third consecutive CWG Gold medal (Gold Coast 2018, Birmingham 2022, and the current edition).
• Record-Breaking Performance: Mirabai set new Commonwealth Games records in both the Snatch (85kg) and Total Lift (190kg).
• Silver for Rishikanta: 28-year-old Rishikanta Singh Chanambam opened India’s medal tally with a silver in the men’s 60kg category.

Mirabai Chanu Dominates Women’s 48kg Category

Mirabai missed her opening snatch attempt at 82kg however the 31-year-old Manipuri lifter displayed trademark composure to bounce back and dominate the competition:

• Snatch Sequence: Cleared 82kg on her second attempt, followed by a record-setting 85kg on her third visit.
• Clean & Jerk: Successfully cleared 105kg on her second try.
• Total Score: 190kg (New Games Record).

Women’s 48kg Podium:

• Gold: Mirabai Chanu (India) – 190kg (Games Record)
• Silver: Ruth Asuquo Nyong (Nigeria) – 168kg
• Bronze: Irena Jane Henry (Malaysia) – 167kg

Rishikanta Singh Claims Silver in Men’s 60kg

Earlier in the day, Manipur’s Rishikanta Singh Chanambam delivered a solid performance to secure India’s first medal of the competition:

• Snatch: Built up progressively with successful lifts of 116kg, 119kg, and 121kg.
• Clean & Jerk: Passed his first test at 143kg (missed subsequent attempts at 148kg and 151kg).
• Total Score: 264kg.

Men’s 60kg Podium:

• Gold: Mohamad Aniq Kasdan (Malaysia) – 273kg (Games Record)
• Silver: Rishikanta Singh Chanambam (India) – 264kg
• Bronze: Joshua Amunga Mobye (Kenya) – 264kg (Snatch: 121kg; C&J: 143kg)

India’s Weightlifting Legacy

Weightlifting remains one of India’s most reliable medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games, having yielded 33 medals across the previous three editions alone. The opening day victories further solidify India’s dominance in the sport.