India's Mirabai Chanu Wins 3rd Straight Commonwealth Gold

Mirabai Chanu turned the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow into her personal stage on Sunday, lifting her way to weightlifting history with a performance that left competitors far behind.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist claimed her third straight Commonwealth Games gold medal in commanding fashion, breaking Games records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total. Her winning lift of 190kg in the women's 48kg category finished a stunning 22kg clear of Nigeria's silver medalist Ruth Asuquo Nyong.

The victory marked Mirabai's fourth Commonwealth Games medal overall. She first stepped onto the podium with silver at Glasgow 2014 before beginning her golden streak at Gold Coast 2018 and continuing through Birmingham 2022.

The journey to Sunday's triumph wasn't without drama. Mirabai failed her opening 82kg snatch attempt after losing balance during the squat, a rare misstep for the elite lifter.

But champions respond when it matters most. She immediately cleared 82kg on her second attempt before nailing a flawless 85kg lift to set the new snatch record.

The clean and jerk followed a similar script. After missing her opening 105kg attempt, Mirabai regrouped and successfully completed the lift on her second try, sealing India's first gold medal of the 2026 Games.

India's weightlifting team kept the momentum rolling throughout the day. Rishikanta Singh earned silver in the men's 60kg event with a 264kg total, executing all three snatch attempts flawlessly before narrowly missing heavier clean and jerk lifts.

Muthupandi Raja added another silver medal in the men's 65kg category with a 286kg total, giving India three podium finishes in a single day of competition.

Why This Inspires

At 31 years old, Mirabai continues proving that excellence isn't a one-time achievement but a sustainable practice. Her ability to bounce back from failed lifts within the same competition shows the mental toughness that separates good athletes from champions.

Her dominance across three consecutive Commonwealth Games, each in different weight categories, demonstrates remarkable versatility and dedication to continuous improvement. From 48kg to 49kg and back to 48kg, she's adapted and conquered.

The three-medal haul in Glasgow also signals India's growing strength in weightlifting on the international stage, with younger lifters like Singh and Raja stepping up alongside established stars.

Mirabai's hat-trick proves that some stories get better with every chapter.