Golden Glory in Ahmedabad: Mirabai’s Comeback Headlines India’s Triple Gold Show at Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships
On a buzzing evening in Ahmedabad, Indian weightlifting witnessed one of its most memorable chapters. The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 turned into a festival of medals for India, led by the iconic Mirabai Chanu, who made a triumphant comeback by winning gold in the women’s 48kg category. The Olympic silver medallist from Tokyo 2020, who has battled injuries and the burden of expectations in recent years, proved once again why she remains India’s weightlifting torchbearer.
Lifting a total of 193kg (83kg snatch + 110kg clean & jerk), Mirabai not only clinched the top spot but also set new Commonwealth Championship records in snatch, clean & jerk, and total. The packed Ahmedabad crowd cheered every attempt as the Manipuri lifter displayed her trademark composure and precision. For Mirabai, this victory was more than just another medal; it was a statement of resilience, reminding the world that she is still a force to reckon with as the road to Los Angeles 2028 begins.
India’s Golden Cascade
While Mirabai’s gold was the headline act, the Championships saw a flood of medals across youth, junior, and senior categories—a reflection of India’s growing depth in the sport.
Rishikanta Singh Shines in Men’s 60kg : In the senior men’s 60kg, Rishikanta Singh delivered a flawless performance, lifting 271kg (120kg snatch + 151kg clean & jerk) to bag gold. His powerful clean & jerk, executed with near-perfect technique, sealed the title and underlined his potential to emerge as India’s next big name in the lightweight divisions.
The event also belonged to Arumugapandian Maharajan, who walked away with a double gold in both the junior and youth categories. His total lift of 254kg (114kg + 140kg) secured him the top spot and mirrored his bronze-winning performance from the 2025 Youth World Championships (252kg). For a young lifter, his consistency is already drawing attention from India’s weightlifting fraternity.
Young Stars: Payal and Soumya Breakthrough in 48kg
In the women’s 48kg youth and junior divisions, India’s next generation of lifters took center stage.
- Youth Category: Payal lifted 166kg (73kg + 93kg) to claim gold and set a new Commonwealth Youth record. Close behind was Bhavani Reddy, who took silver with 158kg. Payal’s lift is already brushing shoulders with the standards at the global level, as the bronze medal at the 2025 Youth Worlds came at 164kg.
- Junior Category: Soumya dominated with a gold-winning lift of 177kg (76kg + 101kg), another result that exceeded the world junior bronze medal mark of 175kg. Her performance places her firmly among the brightest prospects for India’s future.
Dharmajyoti’s Record-Breaking Gold in 56kg Youth : Adding to India’s medal rush, Dharmajyoti struck gold in the youth men’s 56kg category. With a total lift of 224kg (97kg + 127kg), he not only won comfortably but also broke the Commonwealth Youth record in both clean & jerk and total. His effort, though just shy of the Youth World Championship bronze standard of 233kg, highlighted how closely India’s young talent is now tracking international benchmarks.
Preetismita Bhoi an Inspirational Start : The Championships had begun on an emotional note when Preetismita Bhoi, a Youth World Champion in 2024, opened India’s account with gold in the 44kg youth category. She lifted 150kg (63kg + 87kg), setting new Commonwealth Youth records in clean & jerk and total.
Preetismita’s story is as inspiring as her performance. Having lost her father at the age of two, she has grown up overcoming hardship and channeling her energy into weightlifting. Now, standing atop the podium in Ahmedabad, she is not only a champion but also a symbol of perseverance for many young athletes across the country.
India’s haul at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad is not just a collection of medals it signals the expansion of India’s weightlifting base beyond a few names. For years, the sport’s global image in India revolved around Mirabai Chanu and a handful of others. But in Ahmedabad, a new wave of youth and junior lifters showed that they are ready to carry the torch forward.
What stood out across categories was how Indian lifters are beginning to match or even surpass international benchmarks. Payal and Soumya’s results were stronger than recent world bronze-winning totals in their divisions, while Dharmajyoti and Arumugapandian were within touching distance of global medal ranges. This shift points to improved coaching systems, better exposure, and a generation of athletes unafraid of setting lofty goals.
Mirabai’s Symbolic Gold
At the heart of it all, Mirabai Chanu’s gold carried a symbolism that went beyond records. After dealing with setbacks injuries, missed competitions, and doubts about her longevity her return to the top of the podium was a reaffirmation of both her personal grit and India’s weightlifting culture. As she stepped down from the stage, clutching yet another medal to her name, the cameras caught her smiling a rare, unguarded smile from a lifter who has carried the weight of a nation’s expectations for nearly a decade.
In many ways, her gold set the tone for the youngsters who followed, showing them that excellence is not just about lifting weights but also about carrying resilience, discipline, and belief.
The 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad will be remembered not only for Mirabai Chanu’s spectacular comeback but also for the depth of talent India displayed across age groups. From Preetismita’s inspiring record-breaking start to Payal and Soumya’s breakthrough victories, from Dharmajyoti’s fearless lifts to Rishikanta and Arumugapandian’s dominance the Championships marked a turning point for Indian weightlifting.
With the Los Angeles Olympics still three years away, the message from Ahmedabad is clear: India is no longer relying on one or two stars. The bench strength is growing, the records are tumbling, and the hunger is visible. And at the center of it all, Mirabai Chanu, with her golden comeback, remains the sport’s guiding light.
