Ahmedabad: Olympic silver medallist Mirabai Chanu marked her return to competition with a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championship, less than a year after enduring heartbreak at the Paris Olympics. Competing in the women’s 48 kg category, Chanu secured the top podium finish on Monday, signalling her steady progress ahead of the World Championships next month.
For Chanu, the victory was less about the medal itself and more about reclaiming competitive rhythm after the gruelling Olympic cycle. “This wasn’t about medalling but about getting back into competition and preparing myself for the bigger challenges ahead,” the 30-year-old lifter said after her win.
The Commonwealth Championship, known for its relatively lighter field compared to global events, offered Chanu and her coach Vijay Sharma the opportunity to recalibrate training strategies as they set their sights on the World Championships. The duo has been carefully managing her weight and fitness, with Chanu returning to the 48 kg category after years of competing in higher weight classes.
Chanu’s performance underscored her resilience and determination, qualities that have defined her career since her Tokyo Olympics silver in 2021. The Ahmedabad gold may not carry the same prestige as her past triumphs, but it reflects her readiness to once again challenge the world’s best lifters.
With renewed confidence, Mirabai Chanu now heads into next month’s World Championships, determined to script a fresh chapter in her remarkable journey.