"What an inspirational athlete": PT Usha hails Mirabai Chanu's gold medal at CWG 2026
Glasgow, July 26
Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha has hailed Mirabai Chanu after the star weightlifter clinched her third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the country.
Chanu produced another commanding performance in the women's 48kg weightlifting event on Sunday, extending her remarkable Commonwealth Games record after earlier gold-medal triumphs in Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022.
Sharing pictures with the Olympic silver medallist on X, PT Usha lauded Chanu's consistency on the Commonwealth stage.
She wrote, "Champion! Many congratulations to @mirabai_chanu. What an inspirational athlete she is. 3 back to back gold medals at the CWG. The first time we heard the national anthem in Glasgow and hopefully many more times over the next week!"
Earlier, while speaking to ANI after Chanu's victory, the IOA chief had said that the Indian weightlifter's performance had brought pride and joy to the nation.
"So excited to see Mirabai Chanu lifting the weight, and it's a great moment for me and for all Indians that she won the Commonwealth Gold. She was confident that she was doing much better. I am so happy, and it's a proud moment for all Indians," she told ANI.
Chanu's triumph came shortly after compatriot Chanambam Rishikanta Singh claimed the silver medal in the men's 60kg event, giving India its second medal in weightlifting and first silver of the Games.
The Tokyo Olympic silver medallist dominated the competition from the outset. She opened with a Commonwealth record lift of 85kg in the snatch to take firm control of the event.
In the clean and jerk, Chanu stumbled on her opening attempt at 82kg but quickly recovered to clear the weight in her second attempt. She then successfully lifted 85kg on her third attempt, setting a new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth record in the discipline.
The 30-year-old capped off her campaign by lifting 105kg, sealing the gold medal and completing a historic hat-trick of Commonwealth Games titles.
The victory made Chanu the first Indian to win three consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medals in weightlifting and ensured India's national anthem was played for the first time at the Glasgow Games.
India had opened its medal account through para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar's bronze before Rishikanta Singh added silver, with Chanu's gold taking the country's tally to three medals and marking a perfect start for the Indian weightlifting contingent.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a phenomenal achievement! I've been following her career since Tokyo Olympics and she's been an inspiration to weightlifters worldwide. The way she handled that stumble in clean and jerk and still broke records shows her mental strength. Governor PT Usha's praise is well-deserved!
Mad respect for Mirabai Chanu! From Manipur to dominating CWG for over a decade, she's put Indian weightlifting on the global map. And Rishikanta Singh's silver is a great bonus too. India's medal tally is off to a solid start. Would love to see more government support for athletes from Northeast India. 🙏
What a champion! Three consecutive gold medals is extraordinary consistency. I love how she bounced back from that shaky clean and jerk attempt. The national anthem being played in Glasgow for the first time this Games is such a proud moment. India's weightlifting future looks bright!
Mirabai Chanu is an absolute gem! From her Tokyo silver to this hat-trick of CWG golds, she's shown what dedication looks like. PT Usha's words echo what every Indian feels. But honestly, we need to do better in supporting our athletes financially and with better infrastructure. They're making us proud against all odds. 👏
Remarkable achievement by Mirabai Chanu. Three CWG golds in a row is unprecedented in Indian weightlifting. The 85kg snatch record set the tone early. Her recovery in clean and jerk shows champion's mentality. Great to see India start strongly with 3 medals already. Well done to all athletes!
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