Mirabai Chanu's Commanding Gold and Record-Breaking Day for India

Mirabai Chanu cemented her legacy as India's greatest female weightlifter by winning her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women's 48kg category. The 31-year-old lifted a total of 190kg — 85kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk — to shatter the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Games records in both disciplines and the total. Her nearest rival, Nigeria's Ruth Asuquo Nyong, finished a distant second with a total of 168kg, a gap of 22kg.

Chanu's emotional victory came after she had gone two days without food and water to make weight. She wept on the podium while singing the national anthem and later revealed she had been under intense pressure from family and friends. Despite failing her opening snatch attempt at 82kg, she recovered with characteristic resolve, then skipped her final lift with the Asian Games less than two months away.

India collected two further silver medals on the day. Rishikanta Singh matched the Games record in the snatch with 121kg in the men's 60kg but missed two clean and jerk attempts, finishing with a total of 264kg. Malaysia's Mohamad Aniq Kasdan capitalised, lifting 152kg in the clean and jerk for a Games-record total of 273kg and the gold. In the men's 65kg, M. Raja lifted 286kg (126kg + 160kg) to take silver behind Malaysia's Muhamad Aznil Bin Bidin, who set a Games-record total of 299kg.

How the Medals Were Decided Across Three Weight Categories

Chanu's Dominance and Record-Breaking Performance

Chanu's victory was never in doubt after she cleared her second snatch attempt. Her 85kg lift broke the existing Commonwealth and Games records, and her 105kg clean and jerk also set new Games marks. By skipping her final lift, she signalled a focus on the Asian Games, where she will aim to add another major medal to an already decorated career. The 22kg margin of victory underlined her complete control of the category.

Where the Silver Medals Slipped Away

Rishikanta Singh entered the clean and jerk in pole position after a record-equalling snatch of 121kg. However, a knee problem — which he disclosed after the event — hampered his ability to push through his lifts, causing him to fail his last two clean and jerk attempts. He managed 143kg but was overtaken by Kasdan. Singh took pride in becoming the first male weightlifter from Manipur to win a Commonwealth Games medal, an achievement that may soften the disappointment.

M. Raja's silver came eight years after he failed to finish on the podium at the Gold Coast Games. Though visibly disappointed at missing gold, his 286kg total was solid, and he will likely regroup for future international meets. The two Malaysian victories in the men's events highlight the rising competition in Commonwealth weightlifting, but India's overall haul of one gold and two silvers reinforced its strength in the sport.