The Indian National Weightlifting Championships rarely produce a performance that alters the narrative of an entire weight category, in Modinagar, 20-year-old Maibam Martina Devi did precisely that.
Competing in the women’s +86kg (super-heavyweight) division, Martina delivered what many are calling the standout performance of the championships. She lifted a staggering 249kg total (109kg snatch + 140kg clean and jerk) to clinch the senior national title a 12kg improvement over her previous best and a massive leap from the 215kg she managed at the Commonwealth Championships in August 2025 .
For Indian weightlifting, traditionally strong in lighter weight categories, this was more than a gold medal. It was a statement.
From Promise to Power
Martina’s rise has been steady, but this performance marked her true arrival at the senior level. The Manipuri lifter had already shown glimpses of potential in 2024 and 2025, breaking junior benchmarks and pushing into senior contention. Yet, the 249kg total represents a different tier altogether.
Her snatch of 109kg was technically assured and explosive. For a super-heavyweight lifter, speed under the bar is often the differentiator, and Martina’s pull looked crisp and controlled. The lift not only surpassed her previous best but underlined improvements in bar path efficiency and overhead stability two areas that had previously limited her ceiling.
The clean and jerk at 140kg was equally commanding. After securing the clean with authority, she drove the jerk overhead with visible control, suggesting she may even have had more in reserve. Coaches watching from the sidelines noted that she did not appear to be at her absolute limit a worrying sign for her rivals.
A 34kg Transformation
The raw numbers tell a compelling story. At the Commonwealth Championships in August 2025, Martina totaled 215kg. In less than a year, she has added 34kg to her competition total . At elite level weightlifting, such a jump is extraordinary.
This improvement reflects not only physical development but structural backing. Training at national centres, access to sports science, and refined programming have clearly contributed to the surge. Heavyweight lifting demands enormous stress tolerance particularly on knees, hips and lower back and her current form suggests her preparation cycle has been meticulously managed.
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The 12kg improvement over her previous personal best is equally significant. It is one thing to edge forward by a kilo or two; it is another to rewrite expectations entirely.
India’s weightlifting success has historically been concentrated in lower divisions. The super-heavyweight category has rarely produced internationally competitive totals. Martina’s 249kg begins to bridge that gap. To contextualise her numbers, recent Junior World podium totals in the +87kg category have hovered in the 250–270kg range. Her current mark places her within touching distance of global medal territory.
At the 2024 Junior Worlds, bronze was secured at 251kg. Martina now stands just 2kg shy of that benchmark. With her current trajectory, she could realistically challenge for a medal at the upcoming Junior World Championships. At 20, Martina is still developing physiologically. Super-heavyweight lifters typically peak in their mid-to-late 20s, once absolute strength and muscular density fully mature. That makes her current total even more impressive.
Her snatch mechanics show improved timing in the second pull the critical explosive phase where maximum vertical velocity is generated. The 109kg lift indicated better bar acceleration and smoother transition under the bar compared to previous competitions. The clean and jerk displayed increased front squat strength often the limiting factor in this category. Recovering from 140kg clean suggests her training squats are comfortably above that threshold, providing room for further progression.
With the Asian Championships, Junior Worlds, and Commonwealth Games approaching in 2026, Martina has suddenly become one of India’s strongest medal prospects in heavyweight lifting. At the Commonwealth level, her 249kg total already places her in gold medal contention. The Asian stage will be tougher, with dominant East Asian lifters regularly exceeding 270kg. But even there, she now profiles as a top-five contender.
If she can add another 5–10kg to her total over the next competitive cycle a realistic target given her rate of improvement she could move firmly into world podium range at junior level.
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What makes Martina’s performance truly significant is symbolic. For years, Indian heavyweight lifting operated below global standards. Her 249kg total changes the conversation. She is not just winning national titles she is lifting totals that matter internationally.
And perhaps most importantly, she looked composed. There was no sense of desperation in her lifts, no visible strain beyond control. It was the performance of an athlete who understands her body, trusts her preparation, and knows she belongs at the top. If this was the highlight of the Indian National Championships, it may also be the beginning of something larger.
At 20, Maibam Martina Devi has not just smashed records. She has announced that India’s super-heavyweight era may finally be taking shape.
