Indian star weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has once again brought glory to the nation with her extraordinary talent at the Commonwealth Games. Competing in the women’s 48kg category, she proudly clinched the gold medal with a combined lift of 190 kg. With this magnificent victory, she not only secured India’s first gold medal of the 2026 games but also set a record by achieving a hat-trick of gold medals in Commonwealth Games history. Having previously won gold at the 2018 Gold Coast and 2022 Birmingham games, Mirabai cemented her continued dominance in the sport with this third consecutive win.
The 31-year-old Mirabai delivered an impressive performance in the women’s 48kg category. Although she failed in her first attempt at 82 kg in the snatch event, she bounced back to successfully lift 85 kg on her third attempt, setting a new Commonwealth Games record. Subsequently, despite an unsuccessful first attempt in the clean and jerk event, she lifted 105 kg on her second attempt to seal the gold medal. Having secured the gold, she celebrated her victory without proceeding to a third attempt. In this event, Nigeria’s Ruth Asukwo Nyang won the silver medal, while Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry secured the bronze.
Looking at the history of the Commonwealth Games, Mirabai Chanu stands out as one of India’s most successful athletes. Having begun her journey with a silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow Games, she went on to win three consecutive gold medals at the 2018, 2022, and 2026 Games. This brings her total medal tally at the Commonwealth Games to four (three gold and one silver). Alongside her Commonwealth achievements—which include an Olympic silver and one gold and two silver medals at the World Championships—this hat-trick of victories has drawn a flood of praise from sports fans and prominent figures across the country.
