New Delhi: Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu delivered a commanding performance at the National Weightlifting Championships 2026, creating history by breaking three national records in a single category. The championship is being held in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh, where the 31-year-old star dominated the women’s 48 kg weight class.
Chanu lifted 89 kg in the snatch event and followed it up with an impressive 116 kg in clean and jerk, finishing with a total lift of 205 kg. With this feat, she set new national records in snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total in the 48 kg category. All India Police lifter Radha Soni secured the silver medal with a total lift of 183 kg, while Komal Kohar claimed bronze.
Chanu’s total of 205 kg is six kilograms more than the weight she lifted while winning gold at the 2025 World Championships, where she had recorded a total of 199 kg. The performance is also close to her personal best achieved at the 2021 Asian Championships in the 49 kg category.
Speaking after winning the gold medal, Chanu said she was extremely happy with the result and that it had boosted her confidence. She added that achieving such numbers in the 48 kg category was a major milestone and expressed confidence in crossing the 90 kg mark in snatch once her training resumes at full intensity.
Mirabai Chanu won silver for India in the 49 kg category at the Tokyo Olympics. After the category was removed, she shifted to the 48 kg division, where she continues to set new benchmarks in Indian weightlifting.
