Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 congratulated weightlifter Mirabai Chanu on winning a gold medal for India at the Commonwealth Games, calling the nation proud of her achievement and describing medals as being made of 'sweat, blood and tears.'

Context

Rijiju took to X to celebrate Chanu's latest Commonwealth Games triumph, writing: 'Mirabai played for India and she won for India. Nation is proud of @mirabai_chanu for winning a gold medal for India again at the Commonwealth Games! Medals are not made of metals, medals are made of sweat, blood and tears!' The post was accompanied by a video.

Mirabai Chanu, a weightlifter from Manipur, has been one of India's most decorated athletes on the international stage. The phrase 'again' in Rijiju's post underscores that this is not Chanu's first Commonwealth Games gold — a fact well established by her earlier podium finishes at the multi-sport event.

Policy Backdrop

Chanu's journey to the top of international weightlifting has been supported by central government athlete-development frameworks. Schemes such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India have provided elite Indian athletes with funding, coaching, and access to international competition, with weightlifters from the northeast among the key beneficiaries.

Chanu had previously claimed gold in the 48 kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and gold in the 49 kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She also won an Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo 2021 Games and became the first Indian woman to win gold at the IWF World Championships in 2017.

Stakeholders and Impact

Chanu's win carries significance beyond the podium. Athletes from northeastern India — particularly from Manipur — have consistently represented the country at the highest levels of weightlifting, and their successes have drawn national attention to a region that has historically been underrepresented in mainstream sporting narratives.

Public endorsements from senior ministers like Rijiju — himself from Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast — amplify these achievements and reinforce the visibility of athletes from the region. Such social-media recognition has become a standard part of how the government acknowledges medal wins at major international events.

What's Next

Chanu's Commonwealth Games gold adds further momentum to India's preparations for the next Olympic cycle. With the international weightlifting calendar continuing to evolve in terms of weight categories and qualification pathways, her sustained performance at elite competitions will be closely watched by selectors and sporting administrators alike. The government's athlete-support infrastructure is expected to remain central to her campaign going forward.