Mirabai Chanu to Lead India's Weightlifting Team at 2026 Commonwealth Games

Two-time Commonwealth Games champion Saikhom Mirabai Chanu will lead India's weightlifting team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which begins on July 23 in Glasgow. Mirabai, who has won three Commonwealth Games medals — two gold and one silver — will compete in the women's 48kg category. She will be joined by Bindyarani Devi in the women's 58kg category and Harjinder Kaur in the women's 69kg category. Both lifters won silver medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In the men's team, Lovepreet Singh, who won bronze in Birmingham in 2022, will compete in the +110kg category. The squad also includes Commonwealth Games debutants Rishikanta Singh (60kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg) and Dilbag Singh (94kg). The weightlifting competition will be held from July 26 to 30 at SEC Armadillo. The Indian team will leave for Birmingham on Sunday for a conditioning camp before travelling to Glasgow on July 23. India has enjoyed strong results in weightlifting at recent Commonwealth Games. The country finished on top of the weightlifting medal table in both 2018 and 2022. India won nine medals, including five gold, at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. At the 2022 Birmingham Games, the team won 10 medals, including three gold. India team: Women: Mirabai Chanu (48kg), Gyaneshwari Yadav (53kg), Bindyarani Devi (58kg), Harjinder Kaur (69kg), Sanjana (77kg), Martina Devi (+86kg). Men: Rishikanta Singh (60kg), M Raja (65kg), Ajaya Babu (79kg), Dilabg Singh (94kg), Lovepreet Singh (+110kg).