New Delhi: India’s Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu reaffirmed her status as one of the country’s greatest weightlifters by winning the silver medal in the women’s 48kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships. With this performance, Chanu has now secured three medals at the event — gold in 2017, silver in 2022, and another silver in 2025.
The star lifter, who recently shifted from the 49kg to the 48kg division, lifted a combined total of 199kg — 84kg in snatch and 115kg in clean and jerk. After faltering in her snatch attempts at 87kg, she bounced back with a flawless clean and jerk series of 109kg, 112kg, and 115kg. This marked her first successful 115kg lift since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where she had scripted history with a silver medal.
National coach Vijay Sharma had set a goal of surpassing the 200kg mark, as part of Chanu’s preparation to return to her peak strength levels from the 49kg category.
The gold medal went to North Korea’s Ri Song Gum, who dominated the field with a 213kg total (91kg snatch, 122kg clean and jerk), setting new world records in both categories. Thailand’s Thanyathon Sukcharoen claimed bronze with a total of 198kg (88kg snatch, 110kg clean and jerk).
Chanu’s latest achievement adds another milestone to her glittering career and bolsters India’s hopes for the upcoming Olympic cycle.
