Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s weightlifting campaign begins with Mirabai Chanu leading Manipur’s medal hopes

By Rohan Gupta — 25 July 2026 — 3 min read

The Commonwealth Games 2026 have commenced in Glasgow, with India preparing for a demanding schedule. The nation’s weightlifting campaign is set to begin, alongside ongoing events in boxing, swimming, and artistic gymnastics.

Sunday marks a significant day for India as gold medal favourite Mirabai Chanu makes her Games debut in weightlifting. She will be competing in the women’s 49kg category. Other Indian weightlifters, Rishikanta Singh and M Raja, are also scheduled to compete in their respective weight categories.

Manipur’s Weightlifting Talent

All eyes will be on Mirabai Chanu as she aims for her third consecutive Commonwealth Games title. Returning from a significant injury, Mirabai is considered one of India’s most consistent performers across various sports.

This year, Mirabai is not the sole medal prospect from Manipur. Five members of India’s weightlifting squad originate from the state, highlighting its strong presence in the sport. Veteran coach S Brojendro Singh, who coached all five athletes, including Mirabai, from their early stages, expressed pride in their achievements.

According to Brojendro, Mirabai’s success has been transformative for weightlifting in Manipur. Her achievements inspired many young athletes to take up the sport, believing they could also reach high levels.

One such athlete is Nirupama Devi, who will make her CWG debut in the women’s 63kg category. She previously secured a silver medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships. Nirupama credits Mirabai for guidance and motivation, stating that Mirabai patiently explains concepts and offers support.

Another promising athlete is Martina Devi, competing in the women’s +86kg category. After recovering from an ACL injury, she has had a successful 2026 season, winning both junior and senior national titles. Bindyarani Devi, a silver medallist at the Birmingham CWG in the women’s 55kg category, has since moved to the 58kg division. Rishikanta Singh, who narrowly missed a podium finish in Birmingham, also changed categories to 60kg and secured a gold medal at the 2025 Commonwealth Championships before heading to Glasgow.

Indian Contingent’s Preparations and Other Events

The entire Indian weightlifting squad completed its final phase of preparations at the University of Wolverhampton’s Walsall Campus. They trained there from June 29 until the previous week before travelling to Glasgow. The team’s physiotherapist, Rohit Chhabria, praised the “world-class” facilities at the university.

The squad is hopeful of securing at least one gold medal during the Games and has entered weightlifters in 12 categories. Mark Niemz, a senior lecturer in strength and conditioning at the university, expressed his delight at hosting the athletes.

In boxing, Preeti Pawar and Aditya Pratap Yadav will commence their campaigns. Jadumani Singh is scheduled to face a Pakistani opponent in the men’s 55kg category second round. To date, India has secured one medal, a bronze won by Jhandu Singh in the men’s heavyweight para powerlifting event during the initial two days of competition.

The bowls competition continues, with Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh aiming for their fourth consecutive victory in the women’s pairs event. Putul Sonowal will also participate in the men’s singles. Indian gymnasts, including Yogeshwar Singh and Tapan Mohanty, will return for the individual all-around finals in the men’s event.

Source: thenewsmill.com