The Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 turned into a showcase of Indian youth power as Koyel Bar etched her name in the history books with a record-breaking performance in the women’s 53kg category.
Competing in New Delhi, the teenager not only struck gold but also matched and surpassed international standards in an emphatic display that underlined the country’s growing depth in weightlifting. Koyel did a 85kg snatch, equaling the Youth World Standard and the Asian Youth Record. The lift was executed with composure and precision, sending a strong signal that she was operating at a level much higher than her age bracket suggested. There was even a sense in the arena that she could have challenged the Youth World Record outright, such was her ease with the weight.
If the snatch was impressive, the clean and jerk segment took her into uncharted territory. Koyel successfully hoisted 107kg, establishing a new Youth World Record in the lift. Her combined total of 192kg (85+107) also set a new Youth World Record in total, surpassing the previous standard of 188kg. By rewriting all benchmarks in the process, she redefined what was possible in the youth 53kg category. The significance of these numbers cannot be understated. The official Youth World Standards before this event stood at 85kg in snatch, 105kg in clean and jerk, and 188kg in total.
Koyel not only equaled the snatch standard but went on to exceed the other two by a clear margin, stamping her authority as one of the brightest prospects in world weightlifting.
Koyel’s record lifts earned her gold medals in both the Youth and Junior divisions, demonstrating her ability to compete across categories with equal dominance. Few lifters manage to bridge the gap between the two levels so early, but Koyel’s technique and mental strength were evident throughout the competition. Her lifts reflected not just raw power but also disciplined training and tactical awareness – qualities that are essential for a long-term career in elite weightlifting. The trajectory she is charting suggests she could soon be a force in the senior ranks as well.
Sneha Soren Shines in the Senior Category
India’s medal rush in the 53kg division was not limited to the youth and junior events. In the senior women’s 53kg category, Sneha Soren produced a commendable performance to take silver. She lifted a total of 185kg (81+104), holding her own against tough competition. While she narrowly missed gold, Sneha’s consistency in both lifts underlines India’s growing bench strength in the lighter weight categories. For a country that has produced Olympic champions like Mirabai Chanu, the presence of multiple medal-winning lifters in the same division is a healthy sign for the future.
The celebrations extended beyond the 53kg division. In the 58kg youth category, Bhavna Gogoi delivered a gold medal-winning effort with a total of 162kg (69+93). Bhavna’s performance may not have had the world record-breaking fireworks of Koyel’s, but it was equally significant in consolidating India’s dominance at the Commonwealth stage. Her lifts were solid, technically clean, and a reflection of the progress Indian youth lifters are making across categories.
To place Koyel’s achievement in context, it is worth noting that the bronze medal at the 2025 Youth World Championships in the 59kg category was won with a total of 189kg. Koyel’s 192kg in the 53kg class therefore not only rewrote Youth World Records but also compared favorably with medal-winning totals in higher categories at the global level. This highlights the kind of potential India now possesses lifters who are not just winning regional and Commonwealth medals but are putting up numbers that resonate at the world stage.
For Indian weightlifting, which has long battled structural and depth issues, this surge of youthful talent signals a promising new era.
The Commonwealth Championships have often been a springboard for Indian lifters to announce themselves. Mirabai Chanu, Jeremy Lalrinnunga, and Achinta Sheuli all had breakthrough moments at similar events before stepping onto the Olympic stage. Koyel Bar’s performance fits into this pattern, suggesting she could be the next name to carry the Indian flag at the highest level. Her record-breaking lifts are not just a personal milestone but also a reflection of the improved ecosystem in Indian weightlifting.
Better exposure, scientific training methods, and focused coaching are enabling lifters like Koyel, Sneha, and Bhavna to compete with the best globally.
At the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025, Koyel Bar’s golden campaign in the women’s 53kg youth and junior categories stood out as a defining moment. By equaling the Youth World Standard in snatch, setting new Youth World Records in clean and jerk and total, and finishing with 192kg, she has signaled the arrival of a new star. With Sneha Soren adding a senior silver and Bhavna Gogoi winning youth gold in the 58kg division, India’s weightlifting contingent has once again shown its strength.
The Championships have not just added medals to the tally but have also provided a glimpse into the future one where Indian lifters are increasingly competing for global honors, not just regional ones. For Koyel Bar, the path ahead looks bright. If her performance in Shymkent is any indication, she is not just lifting weights she is lifting Indian weightlifting to new heights.
