Mirabai Chanu’s Triumphant Return: Gold at the Commonwealth Championships (193kg)
Saikhom Mirabai Chanu made a stirring comeback at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships 2025 in Ahmedabad, winning the women’s 48kg title with a total lift of 193 kg (snatch + clean & jerk) and setting new Commonwealth Championships marks on the way. The Olympic silver medallist lifted 84 kg in the snatch and 109 kg in the clean & jerk, reclaiming the top podium spot after a roughly year-long break from competition. Her victory led India’s charge at the event and injected fresh momentum into the national weightlifting setup.
After stepping away from competition for about a year, Chanu returned to the international stage in Ahmedabad and walked away with gold in the 48kg category, posting a 193kg total that put her back on top of the Commonwealth podium. But this win is more than a medal. It’s a narrative pivot: a top athlete negotiating injury, rule changes in weight categories, and the pressure-cooker of expectation to remind the sport — and the public — that she’s still a force.
On the day: the lifts, the scoreboard, and the drama
Competition day is chess — and weightlifting is chess played with the body. It’s about timing, margins, and psychological warfare. Mirabai’s performance in Ahmedabad was textbook resilience.
She finished with a total of 193kg, the sum of an 84kg snatch and a 109kg clean & jerk. Those numbers mattered not only because they won her gold — they also set new Commonwealth Championship marks in snatch, clean & jerk and total for her category at the event. She managed three successful lifts out of her six attempts, showcasing both strategic pacing and a cautious approach as she tested her injured knee and match fitness in the snatch. Her final attempt at 113kg in the clean & jerk failed, but by then the job was effectively done.
Numbers, however, don’t show the small micro-drama behind them: the brief pause before a heavy lift, the coach mouthing last-minute adjustments, the tiny wobble as feet settle — details that matter to the athlete and to anyone who’s ever tried to lift something heavier than they thought possible. Mirabai’s lifts didn’t merely win medals; they signalled calibration — a measured return to peak work.
FAQs
1) What total did Mirabai Chanu lift to win gold at the Commonwealth Championships 2025?
She lifted a total of 193 kg, composed of an 84 kg snatch and a 109 kg clean & jerk, which secured the women’s 48kg title.
2) Where and when was this victory achieved?
The win came at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, on 25 August 2025.
3) Was this Mirabai’s first competition after a break?
Yes — she returned to competition after roughly a year away, and this was a high-profile comeback that culminated in the gold medal.
4) Does this result improve her chances for selection in bigger events?
Absolutely. A successful comeback and a championship win strengthen her case for selection to continental and world events, as selectors look for current form and fitness.
5) Who were the other medallists in her category at the event?
On this occasion, Irene Henry of Malaysia claimed silver and Nikole Roberts of Wales took bronze; both put in credible performances but were behind Mirabai’s total.
