Rijiju hails Mirabai Chanu's feat at Glasgow 2026 CWG

Key Takeaways

Kiren Rijiju , Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, congratulated Mirabai Chanu via X on 3 August 2026 .

Chanu represented India at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and delivered an achievement hailed as making 'Bharat proud.' Chanu is an Olympic silver medallist from Manipur and one of India's most prominent weightlifters.

India finished fourth in the medal table at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games with 61 medals .

Indian ministers routinely use social media to publicly celebrate athletes at international multi-sport events.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joined the nation in cheering Mirabai Chanu on Monday, 3 August 2026, publicly saluting the Manipuri weightlifter's achievement at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games — calling it a moment that has 'made Bharat proud.'

Rijiju replied to Chanu's own post on X, writing: 'What a wonderful achievement that has made Bharat proud at the #Glasgow2026 Commonwealth Games.' The message, tagged #Cheer4Bharat and accompanied by the tricolour emoji, was brief but unmistakable in its warmth.

Chanu on the world stage — again

Mirabai Chanu, who hails from Manipur, has long been one of India's most decorated weightlifters. Her Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games — the first Indian weightlifting medal at the Olympics in over two decades — made her a household name. She has carried that momentum into successive international competitions, and her presence at the Commonwealth Games has consistently translated into podium finishes for India. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, India finished fourth in the overall medal tally with 61 medals — a contingent that leaned heavily on individual stars like Chanu to deliver. Glasgow 2026 represents the next chapter in that story.

Ministers, medals, and the social-media playbook

Rijiju's congratulatory post fits a well-established pattern: Indian ministers have made it routine practice to publicly acknowledge athletes' performances at multi-sport events, using their platforms to amplify national pride and signal government support for sport. The gesture, however ceremonial, carries weight — it signals to athletes and fans alike that their efforts register at the highest levels of government. For Chanu, a champion who has repeatedly shouldered the expectation of an entire nation, every word of recognition is a reminder that the country is watching — and cheering.

Point of View

As a repeat podium finisher from Manipur, also carries symbolic weight for a government that has invested politically in the Northeast. The message reinforces a pattern where elite athlete achievement becomes a shared national narrative, amplified top-down from ministerial handles. With Glasgow 2026 underway, expect this playbook to run at full volume through the Games.

NationPress

3 Aug 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Kiren Rijiju say about Mirabai Chanu at Glasgow 2026?

Rijiju replied to Chanu's post on X calling her performance 'a wonderful achievement that has made Bharat proud' at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

What has Mirabai Chanu won at the Commonwealth Games?

Mirabai Chanu has been a consistent medallist for India at the Commonwealth Games; she is also an Olympic silver medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Where is Mirabai Chanu from?

Mirabai Chanu is from Manipur , in northeastern India, and is one of the country's most celebrated weightlifters.

How did India perform at the 2022 Commonwealth Games?

India finished fourth in the overall medal tally at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games , winning 61 medals in total.

When are the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games being held?

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games are a scheduled multi-sport event hosted by Glasgow, United Kingdom in 2026 as part of the Commonwealth Games series.