Star weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu secured India's first gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after winning the women's 48kg title in Glasgow on Sunday, according to Times of India.
As reported by Times of India, the 31-year-old delivered a dominant performance by lifting a Commonwealth Games record 85kg in the snatch before setting another Games record of 105kg in the clean and jerk. She finished with a combined total lift of 190kg to clinch the gold medal.
According to Times of India, the triumph marked Mirabai's third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal, following her victories at the 2018 Gold Coast Games and the 2022 Birmingham Games.
Times of India reported that the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist had previously won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which were also held in Glasgow.
Mirabai remained firmly in control of the competition from start to finish. As reported by Times of India, she finished 22kg ahead of Nigeria's Ruth Asuquo Nyong, who claimed the silver medal with a total lift of 168kg.
Her campaign began with an early setback after she failed her opening 82kg snatch attempt. However, according to Times of India, the experienced lifter bounced back impressively in her next two attempts to register the record-breaking 85kg lift.
Having built an eight-kilogram advantage heading into the clean and jerk thanks to her record-setting snatch performance, the Manipuri weightlifter encountered another challenge after dropping the bar on her opening clean and jerk attempt.
However, Times of India reported that Mirabai responded like a champion by successfully lifting 105kg on her second attempt, sealing the gold medal well before the competition concluded.
The successful lift not only guaranteed the gold medal but also broke the Commonwealth Games clean and jerk record while improving the overall Games record for the total lift, according to Times of India.
With the title already secured, Mirabai chose not to attempt her third clean and jerk lift. As reported by Times of India, the decision was made with the Asian Games, scheduled to begin in less than two months, firmly in mind.